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.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Lou Ann: There isn't a great difference between both, except maybe that "no hay de qué" is a little more formal. But "de nada" is, dare I say, universal.
Both are polite enough for any social context.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Lou Ann: There isn't a great difference between both, except maybe that "no hay de qué" is a little more formal. But "de nada" is, dare I say, universal.
Both are polite enough for any social context.

But how about a professional context? If someone says to me "Thank you VERY much" for something that they appreciate, professionally, and something that I went out of my way to do for them, is it really professional to say "it was nothing"?

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by laepelba

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.

In fact the exactly the different is not anything.

They completely the same.

[irmamar]

Yes, there's no difference. I use "no hay de qué" because I like it , maybe it's a bit more formal, but "de nada" is equally polite. Here you can hear also: "faltaría más".

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Yes, there's no difference. I use "no hay de qué" because I like it , maybe it's a bit more formal, but "de nada" is equally polite. Here you can hear also: "faltaría más".

Or "no faltaría más" (lo que se le ofrezca a su mercé')

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Yes, there's no difference. I use "no hay de qué" because I like it , maybe it's a bit more formal, but "de nada" is equally polite. Here you can hear also: "faltaría más".

Yes exactly the phrase faltaria mas is more polite than anything else.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Lou Ann: As I said "de nada" is the standart reply and suitable for ALL cases.

If you don't want to say that, you can always say some ornamental sentence like:

· Fue un placer.
· No tienes/tiene nada qué agradecer.

When you do a service:
· Para servirte/servirle.
· A tus/sus órdenes.

It's also a matter of how ceremonious you want to sound.

[laepelba]

I know what you said. It just still seems really casual to me.... Thanks for the alternatives. I really like them. Lots of options!

[Sancho Panther]

"de nada" ... it seems too casual (almost flippant) for me to use in certain situations.
__________________

De acuerdo, pero creo que si añades señor(a) suena mejor.

[laepelba]

Like "De nada, señor!"?