n

The sound /n/ is a voiced alveolar nasal.

Tongue position

The tip of your tongue touches the alveolar ridge, the same place used for /t/ and /d/, just behind the upper front teeth.

The contact is firm enough to block airflow through the mouth, but it should not feel tense.

Airflow

Unlike /t/ or /d/, the airflow is not released through the mouth. The soft palate lowers, opening the path to the nasal cavity, so the air flows through the nose.

Voicing

The vocal cords vibrate through the whole sound. You can feel this by touching your throat while producing /n/.

Lips and mouth

The lips are relaxed and neutral. The mouth is blocked by the tongue at the alveolar ridge, but the lips do not seal.

Key distinction

The airflow is continuous and nasal, not stopped and released. This is what separates /n/ from /d/.

Dialectal Variations in Pronunciation and Usage

The basic /n/ is very stable across English accents. There is very little difference in isolation between General American and British English.

A key variation appears in words with -ing. In words like running, standard pronunciation often uses final /ŋ/, while some casual speech uses /n/, as in runnin'.

Assimilation is also important in real speech. The sound /n/ can change depending on the following consonant:

• input may sound like /ɪmpʊt/, with /n/ becoming /m/ before /p/
• incredible may sound like /ɪŋˈkrɛdəbəl/, with /n/ becoming /ŋ/ before /k/

These changes are natural phonetic processes across English varieties, though some accents or speaking styles may make them more noticeable.

Considerations for Spanish Speakers

Spanish /n/ and English /n/ are very similar in most cases.

In both languages:

• the tongue touches near the alveolar ridge
• air goes through the nose
• the sound is voiced

If you say Spanish no, you are already close to English /n/.

The main difference is how flexible the sound is in connected speech. In English, /n/ often adapts strongly to the next sound:

• input may sound like imput, with /n/ becoming /m/
• income may sound like ingcome, with /n/ becoming /ŋ/

Spanish has similar assimilation, but in English it can be more noticeable and more consistent in fluent speech.

Spanish /n/ may also be slightly more dental, closer to the teeth. English /n/ is usually more clearly alveolar, slightly farther back.

For a more native-like English /n/, keep the sound clearly defined at the end of words such as ten and run, and allow it to adapt naturally before /p/, /b/, /m/, /k/, and /g/.