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    Pronunciation · consonant

    The /n/ sound: n as in no

    In short

    /n/ is a alveolar nasal, the consonant you hear in no, funny, sun. It is voiced: your vocal cords vibrate while you make it. Below: exactly how to position your mouth, audio you can copy, the mistakes learners actually make, and drills to fix them.

    How to pronounce /n/

    1. 1Touch your tongue tip to the ridge behind your top teeth.
    2. 2Let the sound come through your nose with your voice on.
    3. 3Keep the tongue forward, not curled back or on the soft palate.

    /n/ in words, with audio

    Listen, then copy. The slow (turtle) version exaggerates the mouth movement.

    • nonəʊ · sound is initial
    • funnyˈfʌni · sound is medial
    • sunsʌn · sound is final
    • opinionəˈpɪnjən · sound is medial
    • neverˈnevə · sound is initial

    The mistake almost everyone makes

    Merging it with /ŋ/ before pauses so 'sun' sounds like 'sung', or with /l/ in some contexts.

    Spellings of /n/

    These letter patterns commonly spell /n/: n nn kn gn. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.

    Don't confuse it with…

    Minimal pairs isolate the exact contrast, the fastest way to train both your ear and your mouth.

    Words that drill /n/

    Each has a full breakdown, audio in both accents and a recording drill. Practising a sound inside a real word transfers better than practising it alone.

    colonelKUR-nulnicheNEESHhegemonyhih-GEM-uh-neeanemoneuh-NEM-uh-neeinterestingIN-truh-stingrestaurantRES-trontbusinessBIZ-nusdifferentDIF-runt

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    Frequently asked questions

    How do you pronounce the /n/ sound?
    Touch your tongue tip to the ridge behind your top teeth. Let the sound come through your nose with your voice on. Keep the tongue forward, not curled back or on the soft palate.
    What is the most common mistake with /n/?
    Merging it with /ŋ/ before pauses so 'sun' sounds like 'sung', or with /l/ in some contexts.
    Which spellings make the /n/ sound?
    Common spellings include “n”, “nn”, “kn”, “gn”, as in no /nəʊ/, funny /ˈfʌni/, sun /sʌn/.
    Does /n/ matter for IELTS?
    It is a polish-level sound: errors are audible but rarely stop a listener understanding you. IELTS scores intelligibility, not perfection; prioritise the contrasts that change word meaning.

    Next step

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