This list includes 77 Nouns that start with N, from “New York” to “nylon”. These entries are mostly common, countable or uncountable nouns used in everyday speech and writing. Use them for vocabulary study, teaching, writing, and editing.
Nouns that start with N are words naming people, places, things, or ideas beginning with the letter N. Many are loanwords or place names like “nylon” and “New York”, reflecting language contact and cultural history.
Below you’ll find the table with Noun, Definition, and Example sentence.
Noun: The word itself, listed in base form so you can find headwords quickly.
Definition: Concise one-line meaning to show how the noun is commonly used in context.
Example sentence: A short natural sentence showing typical use so you can practice real-world usage.
Nouns that start with N
| Noun | Countability | Semantic field | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| nail | countable | object | He hammered the nail into the wooden plank. |
| name | countable | concept | She wrote her name at the top of the paper. |
| nanny | countable | people | The nanny read a bedtime story to the children. |
| nap | countable | action | I think I will take a short nap this afternoon. |
| napkin | countable | object | Please pass me a napkin to wipe my hands. |
| narrative | countable | concept | The author crafted a compelling narrative about her journey. |
| narrator | countable | people | The narrator’s voice guided the audience through the film. |
| nation | countable | place | The entire nation celebrated the historic victory. |
| nationality | countable | concept | Her passport indicates her official nationality. |
| nature | uncountable | concept | We spent the weekend enjoying the beauty of nature. |
| nausea | uncountable | health | The bumpy boat ride gave him a feeling of nausea. |
| navigation | uncountable | concept | The ship’s captain was an expert in celestial navigation. |
| navy | countable | group | He decided to join the navy after finishing school. |
| necessity | both | concept | Food and water are a basic necessity for survival. |
| neck | countable | body part | She wore a beautiful scarf around her neck. |
| necklace | countable | object | He gave her a beautiful pearl necklace for her birthday. |
| need | both | concept | There is a great need for more affordable housing. |
| needle | countable | object | She used a needle and thread to mend the tear. |
| negativity | uncountable | concept | His constant negativity brought down the team’s morale. |
| negligence | uncountable | concept | The accident was caused by the driver’s professional negligence. |
| negotiation | both | concept | The negotiation between the two companies lasted for weeks. |
| neighbor | countable | people | Our new neighbor brought over a welcome basket. |
| nephew | countable | people | My nephew is coming to visit me this weekend. |
| nerve | both | body part | He didn’t have the nerve to ask for a promotion. |
| nest | countable | animal | We saw a bird building its nest in the tree. |
| net | countable | object | The fisherman cast his net into the deep water. |
| network | countable | concept | Building a professional network is important for your career. |
| neuron | countable | science | A neuron transmits nerve impulses throughout the body. |
| neutrality | uncountable | concept | The country maintained its neutrality during the war. |
| newcomer | countable | people | The community warmly welcomed the newcomer to town. |
| news | uncountable | concept | I watch the evening news to catch up on events. |
| newspaper | countable | object | My grandfather reads the newspaper every single morning. |
| New York | uncountable | place | They planned a trip to visit New York City. |
| nexus | countable | concept | The city center is a nexus of transportation and commerce. |
| niche | countable | concept | She found her niche designing custom wedding invitations. |
| nickel | both | object | A nickel is a United States coin worth five cents. |
| nickname | countable | concept | His friends gave him the nickname “Flash” for his speed. |
| niece | countable | people | His niece is graduating from university this year. |
| night | both | time | The stars are incredibly bright on a clear night. |
| nightingale | countable | animal | We heard the beautiful song of a nightingale at dusk. |
| nightmare | countable | concept | He woke up suddenly from a terrible nightmare. |
| nobility | uncountable | group | The king granted the brave knight a title of nobility. |
| nod | countable | action | She gave a slight nod to show that she agreed. |
| noise | both | concept | The construction site was filled with constant noise. |
| nomad | countable | people | The tribe of nomads moved their camp with the seasons. |
| nomination | countable | concept | Her performance earned her a nomination for best actress. |
| nominee | countable | people | The nominee gave an acceptance speech at the convention. |
| nonsense | uncountable | concept | He dismissed her fantastic story as complete nonsense. |
| noodle | countable | food | He used chopsticks to eat his bowl of noodles. |
| noon | uncountable | time | We agreed to meet for lunch right at noon. |
| norm | countable | concept | Wearing casual clothes to the office is now the norm. |
| north | uncountable | place | The compass needle always points to the north. |
| nose | countable | body part | The puppy curiously sniffed the flower with its nose. |
| nostalgia | uncountable | concept | Looking at old photos fills me with a sense of nostalgia. |
| note | countable | object | She left a quick note on the kitchen counter. |
| notebook | countable | object | The student wrote all of the lecture notes in his notebook. |
| nothing | uncountable | concept | There was absolutely nothing left in the refrigerator. |
| notice | countable | concept | The landlord gave his tenants a month’s notice. |
| notion | countable | concept | She had a vague notion of what he was talking about. |
| noun | countable | language | A noun is a word that represents a person, place, or thing. |
| novel | countable | object | She is reading a classic novel by Jane Austen. |
| novelist | countable | people | The novelist attended a book signing for her new release. |
| novelty | both | concept | The novelty of living in a new city soon wore off. |
| novice | countable | people | As a novice, he was still learning the basic skills. |
| nuance | countable | concept | The translator captured every nuance of the original poem. |
| nucleus | countable | science | The nucleus is the central and most important part of a cell. |
| nudge | countable | action | She gave him a gentle nudge to wake him up. |
| nuisance | countable | concept | The loud, barking dog next door is a real nuisance. |
| number | countable | concept | Please write your phone number on this line. |
| nun | countable | people | The nun devoted her life to prayer and charity. |
| nurse | countable | people | The nurse checked the patient’s temperature and blood pressure. |
| nursery | countable | place | They bought a crib and toys for the baby’s nursery. |
| nurture | uncountable | concept | The debate over nature versus nurture is a classic one. |
| nut | countable | food | An acorn is the nut of the oak tree. |
| nutrient | countable | science | Fruits and vegetables are full of essential nutrients. |
| nutrition | uncountable | concept | Good nutrition is vital for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. |
| nylon | uncountable | object | The backpack was made of durable, waterproof nylon. |
Descriptions
nail
A small metal spike with a broadened head, driven into wood to join things.
name
A word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known.
nanny
A person, typically a woman, employed to care for a child in its own home.
nap
A short sleep, especially during the day.
napkin
A piece of cloth or paper used at a meal to protect clothing and wipe lips.
narrative
A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.
narrator
A person who recounts the events of a novel, film, or other story.
nation
A large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language.
nationality
The status of belonging to a particular nation.
nature
The physical world collectively, including plants, animals, and landscapes.
nausea
A feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit.
navigation
The process of accurately finding one’s position and planning a route.
navy
The branch of a nation’s armed services that conducts military operations at sea.
necessity
The state or fact of being required; an indispensable thing.
neck
The part of a body connecting the head to the rest of the body.
necklace
An ornament worn around the neck, such as a string of beads or a chain.
need
A requirement for something essential or very important.
needle
A very fine, slender piece of polished metal with a point and a hole for thread.
negativity
The expression of criticism of or pessimism about something.
negligence
Failure to take proper care in doing something, resulting in damage or injury.
negotiation
Discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.
neighbor
A person living next door to or very near to another.
nephew
A son of one’s brother or sister, or of one’s brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
nerve
A fiber in the body that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord.
nest
A structure or place made or chosen by a bird for laying eggs and sheltering its young.
net
A device made of fibers woven in a grid-like structure, used for catching fish.
network
A group or system of interconnected people or things.
neuron
A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
neutrality
The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict or disagreement.
newcomer
A person who has only recently arrived in a place or joined a group.
news
Newly received or noteworthy information about recent events.
newspaper
A printed publication consisting of folded unstapled sheets containing news and articles.
New York
A major city in the United States, known for its iconic landmarks and culture.
nexus
A connection or series of connections linking two or more things; a central point.
niche
A specialized but profitable segment of the market.
nickel
A silvery-white metallic element, often used in alloys and for plating.
nickname
A familiar or humorous name given to a person instead of their real name.
niece
A daughter of one’s brother or sister, or of one’s brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
night
The period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours.
nightingale
A small European thrush with a melodious song, typically heard at night.
nightmare
A frightening or unpleasant dream.
nobility
The group of people belonging to the highest social class in some countries; the aristocracy.
nod
An act of lowering and raising one’s head slightly and briefly.
noise
A sound, especially one that is loud, unpleasant, or that causes disturbance.
nomad
A member of a people having no permanent abode, who travel from place to place.
nomination
The action of proposing someone for a prize, honor, or office.
nominee
A person who is proposed as a candidate for an honor or election.
nonsense
Spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense.
noodle
A strip, ring, or tube of pasta, typically made with egg and flour.
noon
Twelve o’clock in the day; midday.
norm
Something that is usual, typical, or standard.
north
The direction in which a compass needle normally points, toward the North Pole.
nose
The part of the face that contains the nostrils and is used in breathing and smelling.
nostalgia
A sentimental longing for a period in the past.
note
A brief record of facts, topics, or thoughts, written down as an aid to memory.
notebook
A book with blank pages for writing notes.
nothing
Not anything; no single thing.
notice
A formal announcement or warning of a future event or of one’s intention.
notion
A conception of or belief about something; an idea.
noun
A word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things.
novel
A fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing character and action.
novelist
A writer of novels.
novelty
The quality of being new, original, or unusual.
novice
A person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation; a beginner.
nuance
A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
nucleus
The positively charged central core of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.
nudge
A light touch or push.
nuisance
A person, thing, or circumstance causing inconvenience or annoyance.
number
An arithmetical value, expressed by a word, symbol, or figure.
nun
A member of a religious community of women, typically living under vows.
nurse
A person trained to care for the sick or infirm.
nursery
A room in a house for the special use of young children.
nurture
The care and protection of someone or something while they are growing.
nut
A fruit consisting of a hard shell around an edible kernel.
nutrient
A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.
nutrition
The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
nylon
A tough, lightweight, elastic synthetic polymer with a protein-like chemical structure.