What does "et cetera" mean?
Quick answer
Et cetera is Latin for “and the other things” or “and so on.” It’s usually shortened to etc. and placed at the end of a list to show that more similar items could be added: “apples, pears, plums, etc.” In Latin, et means “and” and cetera means “the rest.”
How to say it
The usual English pronunciation is “et SET-er-uh.” A common slip is saying “ek-SET-er-uh” (with a k sound), which is why people sometimes misspell the short form as “ect.” The correct order is e-t-c.
Using etc. correctly
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Use it for things, not people | ✓ pens, pencils, erasers, etc. |
| Don’t start a list with “such as” and end with etc. | ✗ such as cats, dogs, etc. → ✓ cats, dogs, etc. |
| Don’t write “and etc.” | “And” is already inside et |
| Keep the period | etc. (in American and British usage) |
If a sentence ends with “etc.,” don’t add a second period.
Etc. vs et al. vs e.g.
| Abbreviation | Latin | Meaning | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| etc. | et cetera | And the rest | Things |
| et al. | et alii | And others | People, especially authors |
| e.g. | exempli gratia | For example | Giving examples |
| i.e. | id est | That is | Explaining or restating |
A famous film line
In the 1956 film The King and I, Yul Brynner’s King of Siam repeatedly says “et cetera, et cetera, et cetera,” a line that became a well-known catchphrase. People still quote it, stretching out each word, to suggest a long and tiresome list.
Other Latin in everyday English
Phrases such as per capita, ad hoc and bona fide are explained in what language the ancient Romans spoke.
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