って

See also: つて

Japanese

Etymology

A contracted form of と (to; used to indicate a quotation) and 言う (いう, iu; to say); literally meaning "I/you/he/she/they/we said that..".

Particle

って (rōmaji tte)

1. he/she/I/they/we said; a type of verbal quotation marks used for direct quotes and indirect quotes

   すぐ来 (き)ますって。

   Sugu kimasu tte.

   He said he'd come soon.

   お母 (かあ)さんに聞 (き)いたら、「だめだ」って。

   Okāsan ni kiitara, “Dame da” tte.

   When I asked my mom, she said "no."

2. used to emphasize a word

   アラビア語 (ご)って、難 (むずか)しくないじゃん？

   Arabiago tte, muzukashikunaijan?

   Arabic, you say? Isn't that difficult?

   これって何 (なん)て名前 (なまえ)？

   Kore tte nante namae?

   What is this called?

Usage notes

• The particle is often contracted to て after an ん sound.

See also

• ってば (tteba)