7,280 Words That Start With "N"
7,280 words that start with "N" in our 199K-word dictionary.
Browse the complete list of 7,280 English words starting with "N". Each word in the grid below shows its IPA pronunciation, CEFR difficulty level (A1 beginner up to C2 mastery), and a one-line plain-English definition. Click any word to open its full dictionary entry. Use the filters to narrow by length, part of speech, or learner level.
Most Common Words That Start With "N" (Top 1k)
Less Common Words That Start With "N" (Top 5k+)
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Nadir /ˈneɪdɪr/noun C2
The lowest or worst point of something; the bottom of failure or decline, opposite of zenith.
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Nail /neɪl/noun A1
A small metal stick that you hammer into wood to hold things together.
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Name /neɪm/noun A1
The word used to identify a person, place, or thing.
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Narrow /ˈnær.oʊ/adj A2
Something that is thin or small from one side to the other.
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Nascent /ˈnæsənt/adj C2
Just beginning to develop or form, like a new idea or movement that has just started.
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Nation /ˈneɪ.ʃən/noun A2
A large group of people living in the same country with their own government.
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Native /ˈneɪtɪv/adj A2
Born or originating in a particular country or place.
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Naval /ˈneɪvəl/adj B2
Connected to a country's military sea forces and ships.
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Navel /ˈneɪvəl/noun A2
Your bellybutton; the small round mark on your stomach.
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Near /nɪr/prep A1
Close to something; not far away.
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Nearby /ˈnɪrbaɪ/adj A2
Located close to something; at a short distance.
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Nearly /ˈnɪrli/adv A2
Almost, but not completely or exactly.
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Neck /nɛk/noun A1
The body part between your head and your shoulders.
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Need /niːd/verb A1
To have to have something; to want or require.
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Needle /ˈniːdəl/noun A1
A small sharp object for sewing clothes or fabric together.
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Neglect /nɪˈɡlekt/verb B2
To not take care of something or someone that needs your attention. You ignore it or don't do what you should do for it.
582 More Words That Start With "N" (definitions coming soon)
Words That Start With "N" by Length
2 Letter Words That Start With "N" (21)
See all 21 2-letter words that start with "N" →
3 Letter Words That Start With "N" (79)
See all 79 3-letter words that start with "N" →
4 Letter Words That Start With "N" (202)
See all 202 4-letter words that start with "N" →
5 Letter Words That Start With "N" (384)
See all 384 5-letter words that start with "N" →
6 Letter Words That Start With "N" (573)
See all 573 6-letter words that start with "N" →
7 Letter Words That Start With "N" (772)
See all 772 7-letter words that start with "N" →
8 Letter Words That Start With "N" (879)
See all 879 8-letter words that start with "N" →
9 Letter Words That Start With "N" (953)
See all 953 9-letter words that start with "N" →
10 Letter Words That Start With "N" (864)
See all 864 10-letter words that start with "N" →
11 Letter Words That Start With "N" (749)
See all 749 11-letter words that start with "N" →
12 Letter Words That Start With "N" (634)
See all 634 12-letter words that start with "N" →
13 Letter Words That Start With "N" (536)
See all 536 13-letter words that start with "N" →
14 Letter Words That Start With "N" (374)
See all 374 14-letter words that start with "N" →
15 Letter Words That Start With "N" (260)
Words That Start With "N" by Part of Speech
Nouns That Start With "N" (45)
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Nature /ˈneɪtʃər/noun A1
The environment: plants, animals, mountains, rivers, and weather.
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Network /ˈnɛtwɜːrk/noun B1
A network is when many people or things are connected together so they can share information or help each other.
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News /njuːz/noun A1
New information about what happened recently in the world.
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Night /naɪt/noun A1
The time when the sun is down and it is dark outside.
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Nine /naɪn/noun A1
The number you get after counting eight things.
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Nose /noʊz/noun A1
The part of your face in the middle where you breathe and smell.
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Nothing /ˈnʌθɪŋ/noun A1
No thing at all; zero things or no items.
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Number /ˈnʌmbər/noun A1
A symbol or word like 1, 2, 3, one, two, three used for counting.
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Nut /nʌt/noun A1
Food that grows inside a hard shell, like almonds or walnuts.
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Nail /neɪl/noun A1
A small metal stick that you hammer into wood to hold things together.
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Name /neɪm/noun A1
The word used to identify a person, place, or thing.
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Neck /nɛk/noun A1
The body part between your head and your shoulders.
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Needle /ˈniːdəl/noun A1
A small sharp object for sewing clothes or fabric together.
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Neighbor /ˈneɪbər/noun A1
Someone who lives close to you in your street or building.
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Newspaper /ˈnjuːzpeɪpər/noun A1
Paper with news and information you read or buy daily.
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Nobody /ˈnoʊbɑdi/noun A1
Used to say that no people are present or involved in something.
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Noise /nɔɪz/noun A1
Sounds that are loud or unpleasant, usually annoying or hard to ignore.
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Noon /nuːn/noun A1
The time of day that is 12 o'clock in the middle of the day, when the sun is at the highest point.
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North /nɔrθ/noun A1
The direction of the North Pole, the cold top part of Earth.
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Note /noʊt/noun A1
A brief piece of writing about something, like a reminder or comment.
See all 45 nouns that start with "N" →
Verbs That Start With "N" (8)
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Need /niːd/verb A1
To have to have something; to want or require.
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Notice /ˈnəʊtɪs/verb A1
To see or pay attention to something.
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Negotiate /nɪˈɡoʊʃieɪt/verb B2
To talk and bargain with someone to make a deal or agreement that works for both sides.
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Nod /nɑd/verb A2
To move your head up and down quickly to say yes or show you understand.
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Naturalise /ˈnætʃrəlaɪz/verb C1
To officially make someone a citizen of a country when they were born in a different country.
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Neglect /nɪˈɡlekt/verb B2
To not take care of something or someone that needs your attention. You ignore it or don't do what you should do for it.
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Nullify /ˈnʌlɪfaɪ/verb C2
To make something legally invalid or no longer binding. To cancel the force or effect of something, especially in legal or formal contexts.
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Nurture /ˈnɜːr.tʃər/verb C1
To take care of something and help it grow stronger and better. To encourage development and give support.
See all 8 verbs that start with "N" →
Adjectives That Start With "N" (23)
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Natural /ˈnætʃərəl/adj A1
Made by nature, not by humans; not artificial or fake.
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Negative /ˈneɡətɪv/adj A2
Saying no or showing something is not true or not good.
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New /njuː/adj A1
Something new is made or bought recently and has not been used much or worn out yet.
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Next /nɛkst/adj A1
The one that comes immediately after this one.
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Nice /naɪs/adj A1
Good, pleasant, or enjoyable to experience or be with.
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Net /nɛt/adj B2
The final amount after subtracting everything. Opposite of gross. For example, net salary is what you actually receive after taxes and deductions.
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Narrow /ˈnær.oʊ/adj A2
Something that is thin or small from one side to the other.
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National /ˈnæʃənəl/adj A2
Belonging to an entire country, not just one city or region.
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Native /ˈneɪtɪv/adj A2
Born or originating in a particular country or place.
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Naval /ˈneɪvəl/adj B2
Connected to a country's military sea forces and ships.
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Nearby /ˈnɪrbaɪ/adj A2
Located close to something; at a short distance.
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Nervous /ˈnɜːrvəs/adj A2
When you feel worried or a bit scared before something important, like a test or interview, you are nervous.
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Normal /ˈnɔːrməl/adj A2
Typical or usual; what most people expect or what happens most of the time.
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Northern /ˈnɔrðərn/adj A2
Located in or coming from the northern part of a place.
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Numerous /ˈnjuːmərəs/adj B1
Very many; a large number of something.
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Necessary /ˈnɛsəsɛri/adj A2
Something that must happen or be done; essential.
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Neural /ˈnjʊərəl/adj B2
Connected to how nerves or brain networks work, including computer systems built like brains.
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Neutral /ˈnjuːtrəl/adj B2
Not taking sides. Staying fair and equal to both people or groups. Not favoring one over the other.
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Nuanced /ˈnjuːɑːnst/adj C1
Having many small, subtle differences that show careful thinking. Not simple or black-and-white, but complex with many layers.
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Nascent /ˈnæsənt/adj C2
Just beginning to develop or form, like a new idea or movement that has just started.
See all 23 adjectives that start with "N" →
Adverbs That Start With "N" (9)
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Never /ˈnɛvər/adv A1
Never means it has not happened, does not happen now, and will not happen. It's the strongest way to say 'not'.
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No /noʊ/adv A1
The opposite of 'yes'. You say it when you do not want something or do not agree.
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Not /nɑt/adv A1
A word that makes a sentence negative; opposite of yes.
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Now /naʊ/adv A1
At this moment or the present time; not in the past or future.
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None /nʌn/adv A1
Meaning not any or zero; used when something does not exist or is absent.
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Nearly /ˈnɪrli/adv A2
Almost, but not completely or exactly.
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Normally /ˈnɔːrməli/adv A2
Usually; in the way that is typical or happens most of the time.
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Nowhere /ˈnoʊweə(r)/adv A2
Not in any place; no place at all. Used when something does not exist or cannot be found anywhere.
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Nevertheless /ˌnevərðəˈles/adv B2
But despite what was just said. A more formal way of saying 'however' or 'but'. Something unexpected still happened.
How to Use Words That Start With "N"
Scrabble and Word Games
In Scrabble and Words With Friends, words starting with "N" can be valuable when you need to play through an existing tile on the board. Higher-tier letters like J, Q, X, and Z multiply your score quickly when stacked on bonus squares — scan the list below for short words that contain them. Two and three-letter words starting with "N" are especially useful for parallel plays where you build along an existing word and earn points for every adjacent tile.
Crossword Puzzles
For crossword puzzles, the most useful entries are mid-length common words — 5 to 8 letters — that fit standard grid patterns. Filter the list by length to match the cells in your clue. Pay attention to the CEFR level: clues from mainstream newspapers favour B1–B2 vocabulary, while themed and cryptic puzzles draw on rarer C1 and C2 words. The IPA shown on each card also helps confirm a guess — a clue marked "two syllables" should match a word with a simple stress pattern.
Creative Writing and Poetry
Writers and poets often look for groups of words starting with "N" to build alliteration, rhythm, or near-rhymes. Sort the list by length, scan the rare and C1+ words for fresh imagery, and use the linked dictionary entries to confirm connotation before you commit. The plain-English definitions are intentionally short so you can scan dozens of options without losing flow.
Longest Word That Start With "N"
Frequently Asked Questions About Words That Start With "N"
- How many words starting with "N"?
- There are 7,280 words starting with "N" in our 199,000-word English dictionary. The list ranges from common everyday words to rarer specialised vocabulary.
- What is the longest word starting with "N"?
- The longest word starting with "N" in our list is "NANOCRYSTALLINE" — 15 letters long. Tap the word to see its full definition.
- Are these words valid in Scrabble?
- Most of the words in this list are valid in Scrabble and similar word games (we cross-reference standard tournament dictionaries). A handful of proper nouns and very rare technical terms may not be — when in doubt, double-check with the official Scrabble dictionary used in your league.
- How many 5-letter words starting with "N"?
- 384 5-letter words starting with "N" — useful for Wordle, daily puzzles, and short crosswords. Filter by length above to see only 5-letter results.