also: なんとゆう
expression
how ...!; what a ...!
Exclamatory phrase used to express surprise, admiration, or strong emotion about the degree or quality of something. Often followed by an adjective or noun.
なんという美しい景色だろう。
What a beautiful view!
なんという偶然だ。
What a coincidence!
expression
nothing special; nothing worth mentioning
Used in negative constructions, especially 何ということもない, to indicate that something is unremarkable or not worth noting.
彼の話はなんということもなかった。
His story was nothing special.
expression
of what name; what is it called
Literal interrogative use asking for the name of something. Less common in modern speech; often replaced by 何という名前 or similar phrases.
この花はなんという名前ですか。
What is this flower called?
Combination of the interrogative 何 (what) and the quotative という (called/named). The exclamatory sense developed from rhetorical questions about the nature or name of something.