History of saying 'de nada'

[theone]

Hi, I am interested in knowing why the response to 'gracias' is 'de nada'. What is the history behind using this response with the words "of nothing" ? What is the history of the use of the word that means nothing to become the response to 'gracias'?
Thanks.

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by theone

Hi, I am interested in knowing why the response to 'gracias' is 'de nada'. What is the history behind using this response with the words "of nothing" ? What is the history of the use of the word that means nothing to become the response to 'gracias'?
Thanks.

No estoy seguro de lo que la etimología venga , pero me parece ser parecido al dicho en inglés

- Thank you
- Oh it was nothing

Al buscar lo hallo

La palabra nada proviene del latin natus nata natum participio del verbo nascor, (nacer).Se utilizaba la expresión " res nata" o cosa nacida. Posteriormente la palabra res paso al catalán "res" y al francés desde el acusativo rem "rien" y la palabra "nada" al español y al portugués.De nada es como decir "por nada" o sea "no hay porqué dar las gracias" o no hay de qué como también se dice.

[sosia]

I don't know the origin, but I agree with bobjenkins. There are shorted-with-the-time expresions, like goodbye or wellcome.
A.gracias
B: de nada (no hay nada que agradecer, das las gracias por nada importante,
- no hay de que (no hay de que dar gracias)

another example
adios (A Dios te encomiendo, I hope God take care of you) I suppose

saludos

[chileno]

Sometimes people say "por nada" also.

[brute]

Originally Posted by theone

Hi, I am interested in knowing why the response to 'gracias' is 'de nada'. What is the history behind using this response with the words "of nothing" ? What is the history of the use of the word that means nothing to become the response to 'gracias'?
Thanks.

English - Its nothing, French - Il n'a pas de quoi (There is nothing of what) German - Es macht nichts (It makes nothing) and similar expressions in many other languages.

[ookami]

Here is common to wellcome with a negative form, like trying to not accept the thanks:

-No no, por favor...

I almost always use, to say "de nada":
-Noo... (and a "tone" of a sentence that continues)

Another way:
-No hay por donde. (figurative sense, there is no place to put the thanks)

Or just:
-Por favor... ("Por favor no es nada"-"Por favor no agradezca")

Or:
-No es nada.

But the more common in all countrys and "formal", if you want, is "De nada". Above this post were explain from where it could have came..

[Villa]

No hay de que. And the Italian Non c'e' di che! Somewhat similiar. che=que

Don't mention it; used as you're welcome in the sense of no problem

[CrOtALiTo]

It's used when someone did something for you and you tell him Gracias and he answering you de nada.

It's simply to understand, because casually it doesn't has anything to complex.

[irmamar]

I prefer "no hay de qué" to "de nada"

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I prefer "no hay de qué" to "de nada"

Why? What exactly is the difference in the SENSE of the two ("no hay de qué" vs. "de nada")? I have never felt comfortable with "de nada" ... it seems too casual (almost flippant) for me to use in certain situations.