なんだ

also: なーんだ · なあんだ

な

ん

だ

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

what!; oh!

usually written using kana alone

Expresses surprise, realization, or mild disappointment. Often drawn out as なーんだ or なあんだ.

what the heck; what the; damn

usually written using kana alone

Only with reading なんだ

Stronger exclamation of annoyance, disbelief, or frustration. Restricted to the reading なんだ.

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おやN3sense 1
おや is a light interjection for noticing something unexpected, while なんだ (drawn out as なーんだ) more often marks relief or mild letdown after finding out what something is.
チェッ sense 2
ちぇっ is a short click of annoyance or disgust, while なんだ in its sharper use expresses indignant disbelief, often before a complaint.
あらN1sense 1
あら is a softer, often feminine exclamation of mild surprise, whereas なんだ can be used by anyone and often carries a note of anticlimax.
へえ sense 1
へえ shows interested surprise at new information, while なんだ (なーんだ) shows surprise that resolves into disappointment or relief.

何なにN5
なに is the neutral question word for 'what', while 何だ(なんだ) is an interjection used alone to show surprise or annoyance rather than to ask a question.

何なんだ
Kanji spelling; may be encountered but kana is preferred.
なーんだ
kana-only spelling
Drawn-out casual variant expressing realization or mild disappointment.
なあんだ
kana-only spelling
Alternative drawn-out spelling, similar to なーんだ.

Contraction of 何 (なに, 'what') + だ (copula). The interjection use developed from rhetorical questions.