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According to wiktionairy, なんと can be used as an "intensifier" in the following sense:

Used to intensify an adjective. Carries connotations of surprise or being emotionally moved: what a…; how … it is

なんときれいな月つきだろう。

The moon is gorgeous tonight, isn't it?

But it seems like なんて can be used in this way as well?

George
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Both can be used for exclamation. To me なんと is more literary.

なんと　 感心・失望などの気持ちを強調して表す。なんて。「―美しい花だ」「―愚かな人だ」

なんて　驚いたり、あきれたり、感心したりする気持ちを表す。なんという。「―だらしないんだ」「―すばらしい絵だ」

A difference is that なんて can be followed directly by a noun whereas なんと can't. E.g.,

  • なんてやつだ What a guy. = なんというやつだ
  • なんとやつだ would be understood as なんと、やつだ. Wow, (that's) him.
sundowner
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  • Thanks. Judging by those definitions, they seem identical to me (aside from the grammatical thing you pointed out about なんと being unable to precede a noun)? RE the grammatical point: do you know why that rule with nouns developed? Is there any general pattern being followed here (say, about contractions that end in て vs と)? – George Jan 28 '23 at 00:09
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    @George That should be etymology of those particular words, as you guess. なんて derives from なんという (see the dictionary link) and connecting-to-noun in nature and なんと derives from なにと which is (due to と) adverbial in nature. – sundowner Jan 28 '23 at 00:52
  • Just wanted to then confirm that 「なんとやつだ」, literally speaking, means "with what, is a man". (Or more idiomatically: "with what!, it's him" or just "what! it's him". – George Jan 28 '23 at 04:04
  • @George なんと like this is an interjection on its own. It's just "wow" or "oh my". – naruto Jan 28 '23 at 04:58