なんて

See also: なんで

Japanese

Etymology 1

A contraction of phrase 等 (nado, “and so forth, etc.”) + とて (tote, particle combination indicating “that kind of thing”, from と to, quotative particle + て te, conjunctive particle).[1]

Some sources describe this as a shift from 等 (nado) + と (to),[2][3][4] or from 等 (nado) + と (to) + は (wa, topic particle),[4] or even just from 等 (nado),[4] but the phonetic shift in the final vowel from -o or -a to -e is unexplainable in these hypotheses.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [nã̠nte̞]

Particle

なんて • (nante) 

  1. (adverbial particle, dismissive, derogatory) emphasizes disgust, contempt, or otherwise negative feelings of the speaker: whatever
    お前(まえ)なんてどうでもいい。
    Omae nante dō de mo ii.
    Whatever.
Usage notes
Synonyms

Etymology 2
Alternative spelling
何て

Sources describe this as a sound shift from the phrase 何と言う (nan to iu, compare English constructions whatever kind of; what a ..., literally “what's it called; what a ...”).[2][1][3][4] There is evidence of a form nantē,[2] suggesting a fusion of vowel sounds, where the phonetic development may have proceeded as follows:

/nan to iu/ → /nantɔiu/ → /nantee/ → /nante/

Pronunciation

Adverb

なんて • (nante) 

  1. what a, such a
    なんて美(うつく)しい美(び)女(じょ)だな。
    Nante utsukushii bijo da na.
    What a beautiful woman.
    なんてことない
    nante koto nai
    a walk in the park; nothing
  2. what (used quotatively)
    ね、昨日(きのう)お前(まえ)なんて言(い)ってたんだっけ。
    Ne, kinō omae nante itte ta n da kke.
    Hey, what was it you were saying yesterday?
    これなんて読(よ)む？
    Kore nante yomu?
    How do you say this?
    これって何(なん)て名(な)前(まえ)？
    Kore tte nante namae?
    What is this called?

References
  1. Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  2. Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  3. Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  4. Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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