What is n with tilde?

The symbol "ñ", often referred to as "n with tilde," represents the letter 'n' with a tilde (~) placed above it. It is primarily used in the Spanish, Galician, Basque, Filipino, and Guarani alphabets.

• Pronunciation: In Spanish, 'ñ' represents a palatal nasal consonant, similar to the 'ny' sound in "canyon" or the 'ni' in "onion". Its pronunciation is important for correctly speaking and understanding these languages. You can learn more about it here.

• Origin: The tilde originated as a shorthand notation in medieval Spanish manuscripts. When scribes needed to abbreviate doubled letters (such as 'nn'), they placed a tilde over the single letter to indicate that it should be doubled in pronunciation. Over time, it evolved into a distinct letter. More about the history can be found in this link.

• Usage in Languages:

  • Spanish: 'Ñ' is a core letter and appears in many common words such as "España" (Spain), "mañana" (tomorrow), and "niño" (child). Its usage is critical for spelling and meaning.
  • Other Languages: While not always a core letter, 'ñ' can be found in loanwords or specific contexts within languages like Filipino and others.
  • Computer Encoding: It is important to note that the correct representation and encoding of the character 'ñ' are necessary when working with text in these languages on computers and online. Find out more about how this is handled in computer%20encoding.