IPA phonetic symbol 〚ɲ〛

The IPA phonetic symbol [&thinsp;ɲ] represents a palatal nasal that does not occur in English, but is very similar to /nj/. In Spanish it is "ñ", in Portuguese it is "nh", and in French and Italian it is "gn".

Borrowings form other languages normally replace the [&thinsp;ɲ] sound by /nj/.


 * from French
 * champagne: /ʃæmˈpeɪn/
 * cognac: /ˈkɒnjæk/, ˈkəʊnjæk/
 * Cologne: /kəˈləʊn/
 * poignant /ˈpɔɪnjənt/


 * from Italian
 * gnocchi: /ˈnjɒkɪ/
 * lasagne, lasagna: /ləˈzænjə/


 * from Quechua (via Spanish)
 * vicuña: /vɪˈkuːnjə/


 * from Spanish
 * El Niño current: /ˌel ˈniːnjəʊ/
 * jalapeño: /ˌhæləˈpeɪnjəʊ, ˌhɑːləˈpeɪnjəʊ/
 * piñata: /pɪnˈjɑːtə/
 * piña colada: /ˌpiːnə kəˈlɑːdə, ˌpiːnjə kəʊˈlɑːdə/


 * from Tupi (via Portuguese)
 * piranha: /pɪˈrɑːnə, pɪˈrɑːnjə/