/n/

Press the tip of your tongue firmly against the alveolar ridge - that bumpy ridge just behind your upper front teeth. The sides of your tongue should seal against your upper molars, completely blocking airflow through your mouth. Then simply hum: let air flow out through your nose while your vocal cords vibrate. You should feel a buzzing resonance in your nose and face.

In casual American English, /n/ often becomes a syllable on its own after /t/ or /d/. Words like "button," "written," and "sudden" are pronounced with a glottal stop (a brief catch in your throat) followed directly by /n/ - no vowel in between. Instead of "but-ton," you say something closer to "bu'n." The /n/ carries the whole final syllable by itself. This is completely natural and expected in everyday speech.

All three English nasals (/m/, /n/, /ŋ/) share the same humming quality, but differ in where you block the air:

• /m/: lips together ("mom")
• /n/: tongue tip at alveolar ridge ("noon")
• /ŋ/: back of tongue at soft palate ("sing")

Try saying "sum," "sun," "sung" slowly - notice how the closure point moves from front to back in your mouth while the nasal hum continues.

Place a finger under your nose while making the sound. You should feel a steady stream of warm air. If you don't, you're probably blocking the nasal passage. Keep your soft palate relaxed and lowered to let air through.