Thread: а то

Как бы вы "а то" перевели?
Спасибо

— Да, в первый. Вот что, батюшка... Прежде чем мы приступим к делу, угостите меня чаем, а то у меня вся душа высохла.

В разных ситуациях это может значить "since", "or else", "because" или вроде того.

угостите меня, (а если не угостите, то я буду страдать, потому что) у меня вся душа высохла.

Как бы вы "а то" перевели?

And I've always wanted to know what native speakers say in such cases.

Would you treat me to tea (I could use a cup of tea) before we proceed, since (for) my soul is scorched by thirst.

Why do people ask these questions? How would you translate anything you say? If you were speaking another language you would say it in a different way. If you were speaking to someone who knew Russian you would just say it in Russian and not bother to translate it.

The given phrase would probably be translated as "I could really use a cup of tea now.. I'm dying of thirst."