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а то, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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Russian
Pronunciation
Conjunction
а то́ • (a tó)
- otherwise, or else
- Synonyms: в проти́вном слу́чае (v protívnom slúčaje), ина́че (ináče)
- а то вдруг ― a to vdrug ― in case
- а то ведь ― a to vedʹ ― otherwise / or else (with the sense "you know full well")
- Спеши́, а то опозда́ешь. ― Speší, a to opozdáješʹ. ― Hurry, or you'll be late.
- Я пойду́ с тобо́й, а то вдруг переду́маешь. ― Ja pojdú s tobój, a to vdrug peredúmaješʹ. ― I'll go with you, in case you change your mind.
- Не броса́йте их, а то ведь они́ мо́гут умере́ть. ― Ne brosájte ix, a to vedʹ oní mógut umerétʹ. ― Don't throw them, or they could die (as you very well know).
- because, since
- Synonyms: поско́льку (poskólʹku), потому́ что (potomú što), та́к как (ták kak)
- Я за́втра э́то сде́лаю, а то эссе́ ну́жно дописа́ть. ― Ja závtra éto sdélaju, a to essé núžno dopisátʹ. ― I'll do it tomorrow, because I need to finish writing an essay.
- and/but in fact, and/but in reality
- Synonyms: а в действи́тельности (a v dejstvítelʹnosti), а на са́мом де́ле (a na sámom déle)
- Е́сли бы бы́ло так, а то всё наоборо́т. ― Jésli by býlo tak, a to vsjo naoborót. ― If only it were that way, but in reality it's the opposite.
- (with и (i), in parenthetical remarks) if not, or even, and even, or indeed
- Synonym: и́ли же (íli že)
- а то и вообще́ ― a to i voobščé ― if at all
- Вы́годы дости́гнутся лишь че́рез не́сколько лет, а то и десятиле́тий. ― Výgody dostígnutsja lišʹ čérez néskolʹko let, a to i desjatilétij. ― The benefits will be reached only after several years, if not decades.
- (introductory) Used at the beginning of a remark containing a polite wish, offer or persuasion.
Нали́ть вам ча́ю? — Нет, благодарю́. — А то бы вы́пили! / А то вы́пейте!- Nalítʹ vam čáju? — Net, blagodarjú. — A to by výpili! / A to výpejte!
- Some tea? — No, thanks. — Please, I insist! (lit. otherwise, you'd drink / on the other hand, drink)
- (introductory) on second thoughts (used to indicate agreement after a refusal or hesitation)
- Не хо́чется бо́льше... А то нале́йте ещё стака́н! ― Ne xóčetsja bólʹše... A to naléjte ješčó stakán! ― I don't want any more... On second thoughts, pour me another glass!
Phrase
а то́ • (a tó)
- (colloquial) of course, you bet
- Synonyms: а ка́к же (a kák že), да (da), коне́чно (konéčno), разуме́ется (razuméjetsja)