isn't the var already set? for the second part?

Hi there, Kim Dallas ! I received your request for assistance. Yes, the variable echo is already set, but only inside the function. You've chosen to name your parameter echo, but you could have named it any valid variable name. I believe this is what is causing your confusion. When we call the function, whatever we send in will be assigned to that parameter name and then immediately returned. But the challenge is asking for a variable outside the function to be named echo and it to be assigned the result of calling the function.

We could have done this:

function returnValue(myVariable) {
  return myVariable;
}

var echo = returnValue("Whatever you like here");

When we call the function, we are sending in the string "Whatever you like here". That will now be assigned to the function variable myVariable. The reason I say "the function variable" is because once the function ceases execution, that variable no longer exists. If you were to try and console.log(myVariable); outside the function, you would get an error.

Then we immediately return the value stored in myVariable. This will be returned to the place where we originally called the function which is the right side of the assignment operator after var echo. Remember, the right side of an assignment happens first.

Hope this clears things up!