List of animals that start with “n”
I think everyone has played shiritori, the word game that lets you enjoy playing with language, at least once.
These days there are all kinds of rules—like limiting the number of characters or continuing only with country names—so there are countless ways to play.
The basic rule of shiritori is that the person who ends a word with “n” loses, but what if there are words that start with “n”?
It seems like you could keep playing forever.
This time, I’ve put together a list of animals that start with “n.”
Why not use it when your opponent looks like they’re about to end on an “n”?
List of animals that start with “n”
Ngiri
“Ngiri” is said to be the Swahili word for warthog.
Warthogs live in the grasslands known as the savanna across sub-Saharan Africa.
They have warty bumps on their heads to protect their bodies, and a distinctive set of four sharp tusks.
Although their appearance can make them seem ferocious, they are herbivores.
They graze on grass and use their snouts to dig up roots and bulbs to eat.
When startled or attacked, they can run at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour.
A character in Disney’s The Lion King also captures these warthog traits.
Nma
When it comes to animals, some of you might have immediately thought of “nma.” In the Okinawan dialect, “nma” means “horse.” It does sound similar to the Japanese word for horse, uma.
In fact, Okinawa has many words that begin with the syllable “n.” Examples include “nmu” for sweet potato, “nmaga” for grandchild, and “nnii” for rice (plant).
Because of this, there’s even a saying that shiritori word games played by Okinawans can go on and on.
It might be fun to look into what other Okinawan words start with “n.”
In conclusion
I’ve put together a list of animals that start with the letter “N.” Since there are fewer words that begin with “N” compared to other letters—and some people might even think there aren’t any—be sure to learn these and show them off.
You might surprise people!