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> 彼は **何と** 言いましたか.

What is the reading of 何と in 何と言いましたか. Is it (なに or なん) + と?
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2016-11-10T08:15:48.330
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2016-12-19T23:20:59.227
2016-12-19T21:29:18.863
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question
readings contractions
Is 何と read as なにと or なんと in 何と言いましたか?
I think both なんと and なにと are acceptable, but なんと is more common way of
pronouncing it, because なにと just doesn't slide off your tongue. This kind of
sound morphing is common in Japanese.
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2016-11-10T17:16:31.827
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2016-11-10T17:16:31.827
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answer
> 「彼{かれ}は **何と** 言{い}いましたか。」 ("What did he say?")

「何と」 should be read 「な **ん** と」 in that context.

Reading it 「な **に** と」 will **_not_** make it sound more formal or anything in
this case. It will only make it sound incorrect and bizarre as far as Standard
Japanese is concerned.

When is 「何と」 read 「な **に** と」, then?

It can be read 「なにと」 when saying "with what?" emphatically. For instance, if I
said:

> 「チーズと一緒{いっしょ}に食{た}べるとおいしいよ。」 ("It's yummy if you eat it with cheese.")

and you did not catch the 「チーズ」 part for some reason. In that case, you might
reply:

> 「 **なにと** 一緒に食べるとおいしいって（言った）？」 (It's yummy if you eat it **_with what_**?)

Even in this example, you can still use 「なんと」.
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2016-12-19T23:20:59.227
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2016-12-19T23:20:59.227
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answer