ENGLISH
REFERENCE

otto

num.
A1 Beginner US //ˈɑˌtoʊ// UK //ˈɒtəʊ// ot·to

num. the number eight. It is used in Italian and sometimes in English when talking about music or specific historical styles.

num. the cardinal number eight in Italian. Occasionally used in English contexts referring to musical groups or specific historical movements like the 'Ottocento'.


SIMPLE

The restaurant is called Otto because it is on Eighth Street.

CONTEXTUAL

In the music theory class, the teacher explained that 'otto' is the Italian word for eight.

COMPLEX

While not a standard English number, the term appears in specific cultural contexts, such as the 'Ottocento' period of Italian art and literature during the nineteenth century.

Origin

From German Otto, from Old High German, short form of compound names beginning with Proto-West Germanic aud, from Proto-Germanic audaz (“wealth, riches”) (cognate of English Ed- in Edgar, Edmund, Edward, Edith, etc.).

Usage

Used as a cardinal number or as part of proper nouns and titles.

© 2026 English Reference