a to

Namely: A to

Level 6

A to introduces a more exact detail: a list, a time or a manner. Navštívili sme tri mestá, a to Košice, Prešov a Žilinu (We visited three cities, namely Košice, Prešov and Žilina).

How It Works

Adding detail with a to. After a comma, a to adds exact details about what you just said:

  • a list: Navštívili sme tri mestá, a to Košice, Prešov a Žilinu.
  • a time: Prídem zajtra, a to ráno.
  • a manner, often with emphasis: Musíš to urobiť, a to hneď. (You must do it, and right away.)

The comma. Slovak spelling puts a comma before a to when it introduces a detail, just as before a preto, a tak, a teda (see commas before conjunctions). Without a comma, a to is simply a + the pronoun to: Neodpovedal a to ma prekvapilo. (He didn't answer, and that surprised me.)

What about a síce? A síce appears in speech and older texts with the same meaning, but the Short Dictionary of Slovak (KSSJ) marks it as incorrect and gives a to as the standard form. Recognize it, but write a to. Do not confuse it with the pair síce ... ale (admittedly ... but), which is fully standard.

Other ways to add a detail include čiže (that is), konkrétne (specifically) and napríklad (for example).

Examples (5)

  1. Prídem zajtra, a to ráno.

    I'll come tomorrow, in the morning to be precise.

    Word by Word: I-will-come tomorrow, and that in-the-morning.

  2. Navštívili sme tri mestá, a to Košice, Prešov a Žilinu.

    We visited three cities, namely Košice, Prešov and Žilina.

    Word by Word: We-visited three cities, and that Košice, Prešov and Žilina.

  3. Musíš to urobiť, a to hneď.

    You must do it, and right away.

    Word by Word: You-must it do, and that immediately.

  4. Kúpil som si ovocie, a to jablká a hrušky.

    I bought some fruit, namely apples and pears.

    Word by Word: Bought I-am self fruit, and that apples and pears.

  5. Jeho výsledky sa zlepšili, a to výrazne.

    His results improved, and significantly at that.

    Word by Word: His results self improved, and that significantly.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a síce instead of a to.

    Prídem zajtra, a síce ráno.
    Prídem zajtra, a to ráno.

    KSSJ marks a síce as incorrect in this meaning. Standard Slovak uses a to.

  • Leaving out the comma before a to.

    Navštívili sme tri mestá a to Košice, Prešov a Žilinu.
    Navštívili sme tri mestá, a to Košice, Prešov a Žilinu.

    When a to introduces a detail, Slovak spelling requires a comma before it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

a toLevel 6Namely: A to

Learn This First

Before Namely: a to, learn So and That Is. a to specifies something, as čiže explains it.