"etc." is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase "et cetera," which literally means "and the rest" or "and other similar things." It is used at the end of a list to indicate that there are additional items of the same kind that are not explicitly mentioned, effectively meaning "and so forth" or "and so on"

. In usage, "etc." is placed after listing at least two items in the same category to avoid giving a complete list. It always has a period at the end, even if it appears in the middle of a sentence. For example: "Chihuahuas, pugs, corgis, etc. are allowed in the small dog area"

. In summary, "etc." means "and other things like these" and is used to shorten lists by implying more items exist beyond those listed.