{"id":4393,"date":"2022-06-13T17:15:58","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T17:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=4393"},"modified":"2022-06-13T17:15:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T17:15:58","slug":"de-nada-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/de-nada-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"De Nada \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did someone just thank you for helping them out? You could say \u201cde nada<\/em>\u201d if they\u2019re a Spanish person to let them know it was your pleasure assisting them. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The Spanish term \u201cde nada<\/em>\u201d translates to \u201cyou\u2019re welcome<\/em>\u201d or \u201cit was nothing<\/em>.\u201d It\u2019s a saying used after someone thanks you for helping them out. In Spanish, the term usually follows the gratuity, \u201cthank you,\u201d<\/em> or \u201cGracias<\/em>\u201d in Spanish. \u201cDe nada\u201d is a suitable reply when trying to be nice to someone after offering assistance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cDe nada<\/em>\u201d can also mean \u201cno problem<\/em>\u201d or \u201cit was nothing.\u201d <\/em>It\u2019s a polite phrase with many applications. You\u2019ll use it when talking to Spanish people or when talking to English-speaking people, as most English speakers in the southwestern United States understand the meaning of the expression.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cOh, my friend, de nada. It\u2019s no problem, and I\u2019m happy to help where I can. Let me know if you need anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDe nada, really, it\u2019s no issue at all. Contact us anytime you need help with this sort of thing; it\u2019s what we\u2019re here for, alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, de nada. I can\u2019t accept money for helping out a fellow human being. I\u2019m just glad I was here when it happened, and I could help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDe nada, my friend. I don\u2019t expect any monetary reward for helping you out. It\u2019s my pleasure. Take that money and buy yourself a beer. You earned it after a day like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my pleasure, de nada. There\u2019s nothing I like more in life than helping people out. It\u2019s how I make amends for all the other problems I cause in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDe nada, you\u2019re welcome, my friend. We don\u2019t get many people from your country this far into Mexico. We\u2019re glad we could assist you with what you needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cde nada\u201d originates from the Spanish language, and it also has the same meaning in Portuguese.<\/p>\n

However, the introduction of the saying in America comes from the immigration of Mexican and Latin families to the southwestern US, starting in the 1940s.<\/p>\n

The first appearance of the saying in print comes from \u201cThe American Review: The Magazine of New Writing, Issue 25,\u201d published in 1976. The phrase gained popularity in the United States in the late seventies.<\/p>\n

The word \u201cnada\u201d comes from the Latin root, \u201cnata,\u201d meaning \u201cinsignificant or small.\u201d It can also mean \u201cbeing born.\u201d This meaning comes from the Latin \u201cnatus,\u201d which is the past participle of the Latin word \u201cnasci,\u201d meaning \u201cbeing born.\u201d<\/p>\n

This Latin root is also responsible for terms relating to prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal conditions in women. The word \u201cde\u201d is a Latin adverb meaning \u201coff of, or away from,\u201d or \u201cdown from.\u201d<\/p>\n