de nada vs por nada

Question

I've usually heard "de nada" in response to "gracias", but today, I had a different experience when watching a program on youtube. The response to "gracias" was always "por nada". Is this because the speaker was from Spain and not the Americas?

Good question Island. Thanks! - rheit, Oct 4, 2012

Answer 1

De nada / Por nada (It's nothing) or

A la orden (At your service) or

No hay por qué/de qué (Don't mention it)

are all accepted ways to say "You're welcome" in Spanish.

Answer 2

In my experience, these are pretty much interchangeable, but I have had a few individuals tell me that "por nada" can be taken as lightly rude, like saying "thanks for nothing". Certainly, "de nada" is more common.

Answer 3

I here a lot of "No es nada" to mean "You're welcome."

If I say "Thank you" to someone in service who has helped me, e.g., the bread lady, the store clerk, the ferry captain, they usually say "Para servirle, Seño" (At your service, Señorita).

Is it commonly accepted to shorten "señorita" to "seño"? - rheit, Oct 4, 2012

En ciertos países (México, Centroamérica, Perú) seño es apócope de señora o señorita (and it keeps you out of trouble if you are not sure if the lady is married or single) - francobollo, Oct 4, 2012