e così via
Lemma: e così via
Translation: and so on; and so forth; etcetera; and the like (phrase)
Etymology: This Italian phrase combines 'e' (and) + 'così' (so, thus) + 'via' (away, forth). 'Via' derives from Latin 'via' meaning 'way, road, path', which gives us English words like 'viaduct' and 'trivial' (literally 'where three roads meet'). The construction parallels the English 'and so forth' where movement along a continuing path is implied.
Example Usage
Abbiamo bisogno di comprare pane, latte, uova e così via.
We need to buy bread, milk, eggs, and so on.
Ci sono molti colori: rosso, blu, verde e così via.
There are many colors: red, blue, green, and so forth.
Puoi trovare informazioni nei libri, su internet, nelle riviste e così via.
You can find information in books, on the internet, in magazines, and so on.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'così' (so) + 'via' (away) as 'so away' - meaning the list continues away into the distance.
- Visualize items in a list walking 'via' (away) down a road, continuing onward.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is used very commonly in both spoken and written Italian, much like 'etc.' or 'and so on' in English. It's a standard way to indicate that a list or series continues in a similar pattern without needing to enumerate all items.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both phrases mean essentially the same thing, 'e via dicendo' (literally 'and continuing to say') emphasizes the verbal continuation of a list, while 'e così via' is more general.
Notes: Both phrases are interchangeable in most contexts, but 'e così via' is slightly more common.
Mnemonic: 'Via dicendo' contains 'dicendo' (saying) - think of it as specifically continuing a verbal list.