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).

Some sources describe this as a shift from 等 (nado) + と (to), or from 等 (nado) + と (to) + は (wa, topic particle), or even just from 等 (nado), 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

• See なんか (nanka).

Synonyms

• (less formal) なんか (nanka)
• (more formal) など (nado)

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 ...”). There is evidence of a form nantē, suggesting a fusion of vowel sounds, where the phonetic development may have proceeded as follows:

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

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) な​んて [náꜜǹtè] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [nã̠nte̞]

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?