んだって・
んだって casually relays something the speaker heard from someone else: “I heard...” or “They say....” It belongs mainly to friendly conversation and conversation-like messages.
Relaying rather than asserting
The ending marks the preceding content as information received from another person. The current speaker is passing it on, not presenting it simply as a fact they know firsthand. The source can be stated explicitly or left understood from the conversation.
The main forms
Notice that verbs and i-adjectives attach directly in plain form, while nouns and na-adjectives use なんだって.
健太が言ってたけど、健太の会社は来月大阪に引っ越すんだって。
Kenta said his company is moving to Osaka next month.
Analyze美咲に聞いたんだけど、新しい担当者は佐藤さんなんだって。
I heard from Misaki that the new person in charge is Ms. Sato.
Analyze兄の話では、平日の美術館はかなり静かなんだって。
According to my brother, the art museum is quite quiet on weekdays.
Analyze店員さんが言ってたけど、この型は前の型より軽いんだって。
The clerk said this model is lighter than the previous one.
AnalyzeThe shorter form
だって alone can end a casual report, especially after a noun. Because it has several other uses, this works best when an earlier phrase identifies the source or the surrounding conversation already makes it clear that someone else's words are being relayed.
由美から聞いたんだけど、新しい店の店長、田中さんだって。
I heard from Yumi that the manager of the new shop is Mr. Tanaka.
AnalyzeThe stated source makes the reportative reading clear.
Do not read every occurrence as hearsay
だって at the beginning of a reply can introduce a reason or objection rather than hearsay. For neutral hearsay that must work beyond familiar conversation, そうだ is more widely suitable.
遅刻した理由を聞かれて、彼は「だって、電車が止まっていたんだ」と答えた。
When asked why he was late, he answered, “But the train had stopped.”
AnalyzeHere the expression introduces an excuse; it does not report something the speaker heard.
More examples
先生が言ってたけど、来週は授業が休みなんだって。
The teacher said there will be no class next week.
Analyze彩香に聞いたんだけど、駅前のパン屋は今月で閉店するんだって。
I heard from Ayaka that the bakery by the station is closing at the end of this month.
Analyze天気予報で言ってたけど、明日は今日より寒いんだって。
The weather forecast said tomorrow will be colder than today.
Analyze山田さんから聞いたけど、新しく入った人は元プロの音楽家なんだって。
I heard from Ms. Yamada that the new person used to be a professional musician.
Analyze友達の話では、朝早い時間なら駅も静かなんだって。
My friend says the station is quiet too if you go early in the morning.
Analyze母から聞いたんだけど、今度の旅行、参加者は十二人だって。
I heard from my mother that twelve people are going on the upcoming trip.
Analyze