なんて

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.

• IPA^(key): [nã̠nte̞]

なんて (rōmaji 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.

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

• See なんか (nanka).

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/

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

• 何て

なんて (rōmaji 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 (き)日 (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)て名前 (なまえ)？

   Kore tte nante namae?

   What is this called?