ほんのこて

Japanese

Etymology

Analyzable as a compound of 本 (hon, “real, genuine”) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 事 (koto, “thing, fact”) +‎ に (ni, adverbial particle). In certain dialects, に (ni) has shifted phonetically to い (i), which may then fuse with the preceding mora to cause a vowel shift.^[1]

/hon no koto ni/ → /hon no koto i/ → /hon no kote/

Adverb

ほんのこて • (hon no kote)

(Kagoshima, dialect) Synonym of 本当に (hontō ni, “really”)

References

^ 1983, Takaji Kamimura, 「九州方言の概説」 (Kyūshū Hōgen no Gaisetsu, "An Overview of Kyūshū Dialects"), in 『講座方言学 9 九州地方の方言』 (Kōza Hōgen-gaku 9: Kyūshū Chihō no Hōgen, "Lecture Dialectology 9: Kyūshū Regional Dialects"; in Japanese) Tōkyō: 国書刊行会 (Kokushokankokai Inc.)

[1] 1983, Takaji Kamimura, 「九州方言の概説」 (Kyūshū Hōgen no Gaisetsu, "An Overview of Kyūshū Dialects"), in 『講座方言学 9 九州地方の方言』 (Kōza Hōgen-gaku 9: Kyūshū Chihō no Hōgen, "Lecture Dialectology 9: Kyūshū Regional Dialects"; in Japanese) Tōkyō: 国書刊行会 (Kokushokankokai Inc.)

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