English spellings/Catalogs/N: Difference between revisions

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{{:English_spellings/Catalogs/Masterlist}}
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This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with N. To see a different letter (or the main page) navigate with the table at the top.
'''N''' = '''én''' ''print
 
'''NÁAFI''' *Náffy
 
'''[[Vladimir Nabokov|Nabôkov]]
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>náck '''knáck
 
'''Nadìne''': normally '''a''' as [[schwa]], though [[Chuck Berry]], in his song of that name, pronounces it "Naydìne"


===[[N]]===
'''nâdìr''' *nâydêer
'''N''' = '''én''' ''print


'''nâdír
'''Nagasàki'''


'''naìve''' ''innocent'' can be written '''''naïve''''' - *nŷêve, cf. '''nâve''' ''church''
'''naìve''' ''innocent'' can be written '''''naïve''''', *nŷ-êve, cf. '''nâve''' ''church''


'''naìvity''' *-ìvity - or with French accent '''''naïveté''''', *nî-yeevitây
'''naìvity''' *-ìvity - or with French accent '''''naïveté''''', *nî-yeevitây


'''nâked''' -íd
'''nâked''' -íd


'''Náncy''' ''person'', cf. '''Nàncy''' ''France''
'''Náncỳ''' ''person''; the town in France has the same spelling, but '''à''', and stressed second syllable: *Nàn-cỳ'''


'''Nâomi
'''Nâomi
'''nâpàlm''' *nâypàm or *nəpàm
'''Napôleon
'''Náqba''' or '''Nákba


'''narcissístic
'''narcissístic
Line 37: Line 49:
'''Nâthan
'''Nâthan


'''nátional''' *náshnəl, cf. '''nâtion
'''nátional''' *náshnəl, cf. '''nâtion'''
 
'''Nátional Frònt
 
'''nâtionwîde''' one word *nayshənwîde


'''nâtionwîde''' one word
'''Nâtô''', offically all capitals; Russian speakers have a tendency to say *Nâtə, sounding to BrE-speakers like *Nâter


'''nátural''' *nátchrəl
'''nátural''' *nátchrəl
'''nâture''' *nâycher


'''nåught''' ''nothing'' *nåwt = '''nŏught''' ''zero'': '''thèy wíll stóp at nåught; hòw many nŏughts dòes a quadríllion hàve?
'''nåught''' ''nothing'' *nåwt = '''nŏught''' ''zero'': '''thèy wíll stóp at nåught; hòw many nŏughts dòes a quadríllion hàve?


'''nåughty''' *nåwty
'''nåughty''' ''bad'' *nåwty, cf. '''nŏughties''' ''2000-2009
 
'''Nàûrû''': according to Merriam-Webster, *Nà-ûrû; but *Nòwrû, much easier for anglophones, is usual; also *Nòw-rû


'''nåusea''' BrE *nåuzìa, AmE *nåusha
'''nåusea''' BrE *nåuzìa, AmE *nåusha


'''nåuseous''' -shəss
'''nåuseous''' -shəss
'''Návajo''' *Návaho


'''nâval''' ''navy'' = '''nâvel''' ''body''
'''nâval''' ''navy'' = '''nâvel''' ''body''
Line 57: Line 79:
'''nâvel''' ''stomach'' = '''nâval''' ''navy''
'''nâvel''' ''stomach'' = '''nâval''' ''navy''


'''nây''' see '''nèigh
'''návigate
 
'''[[Martina Navratilova|Navratilôva]]''' - though the [[Czech language|Czech]] pronunciation is very different
 
'''návvy'''
 
'''nâvy'''
 
'''nây''' ''no'' = '''nèigh''' ''horse'' = '''nè''', '''nèe''' ''born
 
'''Nàzi''' -tsì, cf. '''nàsty''', same vowels around reverse order of consonants


'''Nàzi''' -tsì
'''Nàzísm''' *Nàtsízm; some say '''Nàzìísm''' *Nàtsìyízm


'''Nàzísm''' *Nàtsízm; not *Nàtsìyízm
'''''', which can be written before a man's birth surname = '''nèe''', which can be written before a woman's birth surname (French for 'born', they can both have French accents: '''''né''''' and '''''née''''') = '''nèigh''' ''horse'' = '''nây''' ''no''


'''neánderthal''' - nê-
'''Neánderthal''': *Nê-ándert(h)àl


'''nêar bŷ''' two words
'''nearbŷ''' one word


'''nécessary
'''nécessary''': the stressed syllable is before the single consonant


'''necéssity
'''necéssity


'''nêed''' ''require'' = '''knêad''' ''dough'' = '''knêed''' ''knee''
'''nêed''' ''require'' = '''knêad''' ''dough'' = '''knêed''' ''knee''
'''né'er''' archaic, poetic version of '''néver'''


'''negôtiate''' -ôshì-
'''negôtiate''' -ôshì-
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'''negotiâtions''' -ôshì- or -ôsì-
'''negotiâtions''' -ôshì- or -ôsì-


'''nèigh''' ''horse'' = '''nây''' ''no'' = '''nè''', which  can be written before a man's birth name = '''nèe''', which can be written before a woman's birth name
'''nèigh''' ''horse'' = '''nây''' ''no'' = '''nè''', '''nèe''' ''born'', cf. '''nîgh'''


'''nèighbour''' *nâber, rhymes with  '''lâbour''', '''sâbre''', '''tâbor''', '''câber''' and '''Fâber''' (AmE '''nèighbor)
'''nèighbour''' BrE; AmE '''nèighbor''' *nâber, rhymes (and makes [[minimal pair]]s) with  '''lâbour'''/'''lâbor''', '''sâbre'''/'''sâber''', '''tâbor''', '''câber''' and '''Fâber'''  


'''Nêil''' = '''Nêill''' = '''Nêal''' = '''Nêale''' = '''Knêale''' ''persons'' = '''knêel''' ''down'', cf. '''níl''' ''zero
'''Nêil''' = '''Nêill''' = '''Nêal''' = '''Nêale''' = '''Knêale''' = '''Nìall''' ''persons'' = '''knêel''' ''down'', cf. '''níl''' ''zero


'''neîther''' BrE; AmE '''nêither
'''neîther''' BrE; AmE '''nêither
Line 90: Line 124:


'''neólogism''' nê-
'''neólogism''' nê-
'''nêô-Nàzi''' *nêeô-Nàatsì
'''Nepål'''
'''néphew''' -f- or -v-
'''Nérêíd
'''nërvous'''
'''Nèsmith''' = '''Nâismith'''


'''nét''' ''catch'' = '''nétt''' ''deductions''
'''nét''' ''catch'' = '''nétt''' ''deductions''
Line 97: Line 143:
'''Nevāda
'''Nevāda


'''néver mînd''' is two words
'''néver mînd''' ''disregarding'' can be one word in American English (e.g. [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]'s album, ''[[Nevermind]]'', cf. British English ''[[Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols]]'')
 
'''Névil''' = '''Néville
 
'''Nêvis''' ''Caribbean'' cf. '''Bén Névis''' ''Scotland
 
'''neŵ''' ''young'' = '''nû''' ''Greek
 
'''neŵbie''' = '''Neŵby
 
'''neŵbŏrn''' or '''neŵ-born'''


'''Neŵ Ŏrleans''' is the local pronunciation
'''neŵcòmer''' one word


'''neŵbŏrn''' or '''neŵ-born''' ''adjective, noun'' one word
'''neŵel''' = '''Neŵell'''


'''newfángled''' one word  
'''newfángled''' one word  
Line 110: Line 166:


'''neŵly''' ''new'' = '''Neŵley''' ''person''
'''neŵly''' ''new'' = '''Neŵley''' ''person''
'''Neŵ Ŏrleans''' is the local pronunciation (often -línz, as for example as sung by [[Fats Domino]] on "Walkin' to New Orleans"); the least local is '''Neŵ Orlêans''', with optional '''a''' as schwa sounded
'''Neŵquay''' *Nûkey
'''neŵs''' -z, singular noun


'''neŵspaper''' -eŵss-; one word  
'''neŵspaper''' -eŵss-; one word  


'''neŵswörthy''' -eŵz-; one word  
'''neŵswörthy''' -eŵz-; one word  
'''neŵt''' = '''Neŵt'''


'''néxt doôr''' two words
'''néxt doôr''' two words


'''Ngaîo''' *Nŷô '''Màrsh
'''Ng''' ''surname'' *Əng
 
'''Ngaîo''' ''Marsh'' *Nŷô


'''Niágara''' *Nî-ágra
'''Niágara''' *Nî-ágra


'''Nicarágua''' -gûə has given way to -gwə
'''Nìall''' = '''Nêil
 
'''Nicarágua''' -gyûə or -gwə


'''nîce''' ''good'' cf. '''Nìce''' ''France'', '''NYSE''' ''New York''
'''nîce''' ''good'' cf. '''Nìce''' ''France'' (= '''niêce'''), '''NYSE''' ''New York''


'''nìche''' *nêesh
'''nìche''' *nêesh; some AmE: *nítch
 
'''Nícholas''' *Níck(ə)ləs, cf. following and '''[[Jack Nicklaus|Jáck Nícklàùs]]''' (*Nícklòuse, but often called 'Níckləs')


'''níck''' ''steal'' = '''Níck''' ''person'' = '''kníck''' ''-nack''
'''níck''' ''steal'' = '''Níck''' ''person'' = '''kníck''' ''-nack''


'''níckname''' one word
'''níckname''' one word; cf. '''kníckers''', '''kníck-knácks'''


'''Nicosìa
'''Nicosìa
Line 137: Line 207:
'''Nîgel''' *Nîjəl
'''Nîgel''' *Nîjəl


'''Nîger''' ''delta'' *Nîjə(r), cf. '''Nîgel
'''Nigér''' ''country'' *Nìzhãiə(r), French style, though some pronounce it like the following


'''Nigér''' ''country'' *Nízhãiə(r), French style
'''Nîger''' ''delta, river'' *Nîjə(r), [[minimal pair]] with '''Nîgel'''


'''Nigêria''' Nîj-
'''Nigêria''' Nîj-


'''nîgh''' *nŷ
'''níggardly


'''nîght''' ''dark'' *nîte; = '''kníght''' ''Sir, chess
'''nígger''' ([[taboo]] word)
 
'''nîgh''' ''near'' = '''Nŷe''' ''Aneurin''
 
'''nîght''' ''dark'' = '''kníght''' ''Sir, chess'' *nîte
 
'''nîghtie
 
'''nîghtly''' = '''Knîghtley


'''nîghtmãre
'''nîghtmãre


'''nìhílíst''' - '''h''' can be as 'y'
'''nìhílíst''', '''nîhilist''': '''h''' can be silent or a brief consonantal '''y''' sound
 
'''níl''': one '''l'''
 
'''nîne''' (911 '''nîne-òne-òne''' and 9/11 '''nîne-eléven''' are usually written as numbers)
 
'''Níneveh''' *Níniva
 
'''nînth'''
 
'''nirvàna''' *nêar-vàna


'''níl''' - one '''l'''
'''Níssán''' ''car''


'''nìrvàna
'''Níssen''' ''hut''


'''nít''' ''creature, fool'' = '''knít''' ''wool
'''nít''' ''creature, fool'' = '''knít''' ''wool
nîte for '''nîght''' is strictly commercial and unsuitable in other contexts


'''nítpick''' one word
'''nítpick''' one word


'''nítwit''' one word  
'''nítwit''' one word  
'''Niûè''' *Neŵay


'''nô''' ''negative'' cf. '''nº''' ''number
'''nô''' ''negative'' cf. '''nº''' ''number
Line 165: Line 257:
'''nób''' ''rich'' = '''knób''' ''handle
'''nób''' ''rich'' = '''knób''' ''handle


'''Nôbél prize''' - either syllable stressed
'''Nôbél''' ''prize'' - either syllable stressed


'''nôble''' ''birth, elevated
'''nôble''' ''birth, elevated
Line 181: Line 273:
'''nóm de plûme''' *nómdəplûme
'''nóm de plûme''' *nómdəplûme


'''nón'''- ''not'', not a word in its own right except in '''persôna nón gràtis
'''Nôme''' ''Alaska'' = '''gnôme''' ''dwarf
 
'''noménclature
 
'''nón-''' ''not'', followed by a hyphen: not a word in its own right except in [[Latin]] phrases, e.g. '''''persôna nón'''/'''nôn gràta'''''; cf. '''nòne'''


'''nónchalant''' nónsh-
'''nónchalant''' nónsh-


'''nòne''' ''zero'' = '''nún''' ''God'', cf. '''knôwn''' ''knew'', '''nô-one''' ''nobody''
'''nóndescript''' no hyphen
 
'''nòne''' ''zero'' = '''nún''' ''God'', cf. '''knôwn''' ''knew'', '''nô-one''' ''nobody'', '''nón-''' ''not


'''nònesuch
'''nònesuch
Line 195: Line 293:
'''nonsénsical
'''nonsénsical


'''nón séquitùr''' - or '''nôn'''; or -tə(r)
'''nón-séquitur''' may be unhyphenated


'''noòk''' cf. '''knóck''' *nóck
'''noòk''' cf. '''knóck''' *nóck


'''noôn''' ''midday'' = '''Noône''' ''person'', cf. '''nô-òne''' ''nobody
'''noôn''' ''midday'' = '''Noône''' ''person''


'''noôse''' cf. '''nòus
<nowiki>*</nowiki>noone is an incorrect form, probably of one of the following: '''nô òne''', '''nô-òne''', '''noôn''', '''Noône'''


'''nô-òne''' ''nobody'' *nôwún, cf. no hyphen  when '''òne''' does not mean ''person'' but is a numeral, as in '''nô òne síngle rêason'''
'''nô-òne''' ''nobody'' *nôwún, hyphenated, is an increasingly common alternative to the two-word form '''nô òne''', though [http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/no-one_no_one.htm some do not like it] and it must never be used when '''òne''' does not mean ''person'' but is a numeral: '''thére's nô òne síngle rêason'''


'''noôse''' cf. '''nòus
'''Nŏrfolk''' -fək
'''Nŏrfolk''' -fək


'''Nórwich''' traditionally rhymes with '''pórridge''' but these days some devoice the '''ch''' as in '''Ípswich
'''nŏrth''' unvoiced '''th'''; compound forms may be one word or hyphenated, but not two words: '''nŏrthêast''' or '''nŏrth-êast''', '''nŏrthwést''' or '''nŏrth-wést'''


'''nŏrthern''' voiced '''th''', unlike '''nŏrth
'''nŏrthern''' voiced '''th''', unlike '''nŏrth
'''Nórwich''' *Nórridge, *Nórrich: traditionally rhymes with '''pórridge''' but nowadays the '''ch''' can be devoiced as in '''Ípswich''' (how soon before [[spelling pronunciation]] triumphs with "Naw-wich"?)


'''nôse''' ''face'' = '''knôws''' ''know''
'''nôse''' ''face'' = '''knôws''' ''know''
Line 228: Line 330:


'''nŏught''' ''zero'' *nåwt = '''nåught''' ''nothing
'''nŏught''' ''zero'' *nåwt = '''nåught''' ''nothing
'''nŏughties''', '''Nŏughties''' ''2000-2009'', sounding like a plural of '''nåughty''' ''bad''


'''noúrish
'''noúrish
Line 240: Line 344:


'''novélla
'''novélla
'''nòwadays''' one word, no hyphens


'''nôwhere''' one word, cf. '''nô plâce
'''nôwhere''' one word, cf. '''nô plâce
Line 245: Line 351:
'''nth''' *énth
'''nth''' *énth


'''nûisance''' nyûss-
'''Nûala''' *Noôla
 
'''nûànce''' neŵ-
 
'''nûisance''' neŵss-


'''númb''' -m
'''númb''' -m
Line 256: Line 366:


'''nún''' ''God'' = '''nòne''' ''nought''
'''nún''' ''God'' = '''nòne''' ''nought''
'''núptials
'''Nûremberg


'''nút''' = '''Nútt
'''nút''' = '''Nútt
Line 261: Line 375:
'''nútcase''' one word  
'''nútcase''' one word  


'''nutrítion''' ''''''-
'''nutrítion''' ('''û''')
 
'''Núttall''' *Núttle


'''nyctophôbia
'''nyctophôbia


'''nýmph''' *nímf
'''nýmph''' *nímf

Latest revision as of 18:45, 23 June 2017

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list  
Common misspellings  


This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with N. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.

For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.[e]


N = én print

NÁAFI *Náffy

Nabôkov

*náck knáck

Nadìne: normally a as schwa, though Chuck Berry, in his song of that name, pronounces it "Naydìne"

nâdìr *nâydêer

Nagasàki

naìve innocent can be written naïve, *nŷ-êve, cf. nâve church

naìvity *nŷ-ìvity - or with French accent naïveté, *nî-yeevitây

nâked -íd

Náncỳ person; the town in France has the same spelling, but à, and stressed second syllable: *Nàn-cỳ

Nâomi

nâpàlm *nâypàm or *nəpàm

Napôleon

Náqba or Nákba

narcissístic

nárrative

narrâtor

NÁSA space = BrE Násser person

nâscent *nâysənt

Násh person = gnásh teeth

nāstiness

nāsty

Nâthan

nátional *náshnəl, cf. nâtion

Nátional Frònt

nâtionwîde one word *nayshənwîde

Nâtô, offically all capitals; Russian speakers have a tendency to say *Nâtə, sounding to BrE-speakers like *Nâter

nátural *nátchrəl

nâture *nâycher

nåught nothing *nåwt = nŏught zero: thèy wíll stóp at nåught; hòw many nŏughts dòes a quadríllion hàve?

nåughty bad *nåwty, cf. nŏughties 2000-2009

Nàûrû: according to Merriam-Webster, *Nà-ûrû; but *Nòwrû, much easier for anglophones, is usual; also *Nòw-rû

nåusea BrE *nåuzìa, AmE *nåusha

nåuseous -shəss

Návajo *Návaho

nâval navy = nâvel body

nâve church = knâve cad, cf. naìve, which can be written naïve innocent

nâvel stomach = nâval navy

návigate

Navratilôva - though the Czech pronunciation is very different

návvy

nâvy

nây no = nèigh horse = , nèe born

Nàzi -tsì, cf. nàsty, same vowels around reverse order of consonants

Nàzísm *Nàtsízm; some say Nàzìísm *Nàtsìyízm

, which can be written before a man's birth surname = nèe, which can be written before a woman's birth surname (French for 'born', they can both have French accents: and née) = nèigh horse = nây no

Neánderthal: *Nê-ándert(h)àl

nearbŷ one word

nécessary: the stressed syllable is before the single consonant

necéssity

nêed require = knêad dough = knêed knee

né'er archaic, poetic version of néver

negôtiate -ôshì-

negotiâtions -ôshì- or -ôsì-

nèigh horse = nây no = , nèe born, cf. nîgh

nèighbour BrE; AmE nèighbor *nâber, rhymes (and makes minimal pairs) with lâbour/lâbor, sâbre/sâber, tâbor, câber and Fâber

Nêil = Nêill = Nêal = Nêale = Knêale = Nìall persons = knêel down, cf. níl zero

neîther BrE; AmE nêither

némesis

nêô-

neólogism nê-

nêô-Nàzi *nêeô-Nàatsì

Nepål

néphew -f- or -v-

Nérêíd

nërvous

Nèsmith = Nâismith

nét catch = nétt deductions

neûter

Nevāda

néver mînd disregarding can be one word in American English (e.g. Nirvana's album, Nevermind, cf. British English Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols)

Névil = Néville

Nêvis Caribbean cf. Bén Névis Scotland

neŵ young = Greek

neŵbie = Neŵby

neŵbŏrn or neŵ-born

neŵcòmer one word

neŵel = Neŵell

newfángled one word

neŵ-fòund

Neŵfoundland BrE *Neŵfəndlənd

neŵly new = Neŵley person

Neŵ Ŏrleans is the local pronunciation (often -línz, as for example as sung by Fats Domino on "Walkin' to New Orleans"); the least local is Neŵ Orlêans, with optional a as schwa sounded

Neŵquay *Nûkey

neŵs -z, singular noun

neŵspaper -eŵss-; one word

neŵswörthy -eŵz-; one word

neŵt = Neŵt

néxt doôr two words

Ng surname *Əng

Ngaîo Marsh *Nŷô

Niágara *Nî-ágra

Nìall = Nêil

Nicarágua -gyûə or -gwə

nîce good cf. Nìce France (= niêce), NYSE New York

nìche *nêesh; some AmE: *nítch

Nícholas *Níck(ə)ləs, cf. following and Jáck Nícklàùs (*Nícklòuse, but often called 'Níckləs')

níck steal = Níck person = kníck -nack

níckname one word; cf. kníckers, kníck-knácks

Nicosìa

niêce nephew = Nìce France

Nîgel *Nîjəl

Nigér country *Nìzhãiə(r), French style, though some pronounce it like the following

Nîger delta, river *Nîjə(r), minimal pair with Nîgel

Nigêria Nîj-

níggardly

nígger (taboo word)

nîgh near = Nŷe Aneurin

nîght dark = kníght Sir, chess *nîte

nîghtie

nîghtly = Knîghtley

nîghtmãre

nìhílíst, nîhilist: h can be silent or a brief consonantal y sound

níl: one l

nîne (911 nîne-òne-òne and 9/11 nîne-eléven are usually written as numbers)

Níneveh *Níniva

nînth

nirvàna *nêar-vàna

Níssán car

Níssen hut

nít creature, fool = knít wool

nîte for nîght is strictly commercial and unsuitable in other contexts

nítpick one word

nítwit one word

Niûè *Neŵay

negative cf. number

nób rich = knób handle

Nôbél prize - either syllable stressed

nôble birth, elevated

noblésse

nóctürne cf. türn

nô-gô ãrea

nôhow one word

noir BrE *nwà, AmE *nwàr

nóm de plûme *nómdəplûme

Nôme Alaska = gnôme dwarf

noménclature

nón- not, followed by a hyphen: not a word in its own right except in Latin phrases, e.g. persôna nón/nôn gràta; cf. nòne

nónchalant nónsh-

nóndescript no hyphen

nòne zero = nún God, cf. knôwn knew, nô-one nobody, nón- not

nònesuch

nonplússed no hyphen

nónsense

nonsénsical

nón-séquitur may be unhyphenated

noòk cf. knóck *nóck

noôn midday = Noône person

*noone is an incorrect form, probably of one of the following: nô òne, nô-òne, noôn, Noône

nô-òne nobody *nôwún, hyphenated, is an increasingly common alternative to the two-word form nô òne, though some do not like it and it must never be used when òne does not mean person but is a numeral: thére's nô òne síngle rêason

noôse cf. nòus

Nŏrfolk -fək

nŏrth unvoiced th; compound forms may be one word or hyphenated, but not two words: nŏrthêast or nŏrth-êast, nŏrthwést or nŏrth-wést

nŏrthern voiced th, unlike nŏrth

Nórwich *Nórridge, *Nórrich: traditionally rhymes with pórridge but nowadays the ch can be devoiced as in Ípswich (how soon before spelling pronunciation triumphs with "Naw-wich"?)

nôse face = knôws know

nôsey or nôsy

nôtewörthy one word

nòthing

nôtice -íss

nôticeable

notorîety

notŏrious

nŏught zero *nåwt = nåught nothing

nŏughties, Nŏughties 2000-2009, sounding like a plural of nåughty bad

noúrish

nòus rhymes with hòuse, cf. noôse

noûveau rìche *nûvô-rêesh

Nôva Scôtia *Nôvə Scôshə

nóvelist

novélla

nòwadays one word, no hyphens

nôwhere one word, cf. nô plâce

nth *énth

Nûala *Noôla

nûànce neŵ-

nûisance neŵss-

númb -m

númber 123

númber numb *númmer

nûmerous

nún God = nòne nought

núptials

Nûremberg

nút = Nútt

nútcase one word

nutrítion (û)

Núttall *Núttle

nyctophôbia

nýmph *nímf