なんて

Etymology 1
A contraction of phrase +.

Some sources describe this as a shift from +,   or from  +  + , or even just from , but the phonetic shift in the final vowel from -o or -a to -e is unexplainable in these hypotheses.

Particle

 * : whatever

Usage notes

 * See.

Etymology 2
Sources describe this as a sound shift from the phrase. There is evidence of a form nantē, suggesting a fusion of vowel sounds, where the phonetic development may have proceeded as follows:

→ →  →

Adverb

 * 1) what a, such a
 * 2) what
 * 1) what
 * 1) what