-то
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Appendix:Variations of "to"
Contents
Macedonian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Suffix[edit]
-то • (-to)
- the definite article "the" in its unspecified form, neuter gender.
Related terms[edit]
See also[edit]
Russian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From the pronoun тот (tot), та (ta), то (to). Akin to the Macedonian definite article -от (-ot), -та (-ta), -то (-to), and Bulgarian definite article -ят (-jat), -та (-ta), -то (-to)
Pronunciation[edit]
Particle[edit]
-то • (-to)
- (colloquial) (particle used to give intonational emphasis to a part of speech)
- Ну я-то не ста́ну туда́ ходи́ть — Nu ja-to ne stánu tudá xodítʹ — Well there's no chance I'm going there, anyway
- Я и зна́ть-то его́ не хочу́ — Ja i znátʹ-to jegó ne xočú — I don’t even want to know him!
- Об э́том-то я и хоте́л с ва́ми поговори́ть — Ob étom-to ja i xotél s vámi pogovorítʹ — That is precisely what I wanted to talk to you about.
Synonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
- то-то (to-to)
Usage notes[edit]
- Similarly to a definite article, the particle -то (-to) is used generally for ideas that are assumed to already be understood by both parties in a conversation. However it may be appended not only to nouns, but additionally to verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
- For emphasis, frequently used in conjunction with the particles и (i) and ну (nu).
- -то (-to) has a relatively uneducated feel to it, and excessive usage is often associated with rural vernacular or childlike language.
Particle[edit]
-то • (-to)
- some- (an indefinite particle used in the various compound pronouns)
Derived terms[edit]
Derived terms
Usage notes[edit]
- -то (-to) suggests that the object in question is known to exist, but its precise quality is unknown. If the object is known, but the speaker intends to hide its identity, the particle кое- (koje-) may be used. If the object's precise quality is known, but irrelevant, generic nouns such as вещь (veščʹ), человек (čelovek) or место (mesto) may substitute the pronoun. Compare also угодно (ugodno).
- Forms in -то (-to) are usually associated with affirmative (like something), while forms in -нибудь (-nibudʹ) are associated with question and negative (like anything).
