For teachers and parents of young learners, organizing vocabulary by letter is a great way to engage children in language learning. Here’s a list of words that start with “N,” from parts of speech to foods and science terms, perfect for preschool and elementary students.

Table of Contents
- Nouns that Start with N
- Verbs that Start with N
- Adjectives that Start with N
- Encouraging and Positive Words that Start with N
- Short Words that Start with N
- Foods that Start with N
- Instruments that Start with N
- Occupations and Hobbies that Start with N
- Countries and Places that Start with N
- Languages that Start with N
- Science Words that Start with N
- Animals that Start with N
- Plants that Start with N
- Also See
Nouns that Start with N
- Nest: A structure built by birds or animals to live in.
- Nose: The part of the face used for smelling and breathing.
- Night: The time of day when it’s dark and people usually sleep.
- Notebook: A book of blank pages for writing.
- Net: A fabric with an open weave, often used for catching fish.
- Nap: A short sleep taken during the day.
- Name: The word by which someone or something is known.
- Necklace: A piece of jewelry worn around the neck.
- Nature: The physical world, including plants and animals.
- Newspaper: A publication that provides news and information.
- Nail: A small metal spike used to fasten things, or the hard surface at the tip of fingers.
Verbs that Start with N
- Nod: To move the head up and down to show agreement.
- Notice: To become aware of something.
- Nurture: To care for and encourage growth or development.
- Name: To identify or give a name to someone or something.
- Narrate: To tell a story or describe events.
- Nest: To build or use a nest for living.
- Need: To require something essential.
- Navigate: To find the way through or across a space.
- Nail: To secure or fasten with a nail.
- Note: To write down or make a record of something.
- Nurture: To support or help grow.
Adjectives that Start with N
- Nice: Pleasant, kind, or enjoyable.
- Neat: Tidy and orderly.
- Nervous: Anxious or worried.
- Natural: Found in nature, not made by humans.
- New: Recently created or obtained.
- Nifty: Clever, stylish, or neat.
- Nurturing: Caring and supportive.
- Notable: Worthy of attention or remarkable.
- Normal: Usual or typical.
- Nutritious: Providing nourishment and beneficial for health.
- Necessary: Required or essential.
Encouraging and Positive Words that Start with N
- Nice: Pleasant and friendly.
- Nurturing: Providing care and support.
- Noble: Honorable and respected.
- Neighborly: Friendly and kind toward others.
- Noteworthy: Deserving of attention or praise.
- Neat: Clean, organized, and tidy.
- Nimble: Quick and light in movement.
- Nurture: To care for and encourage growth.
- Nourishing: Beneficial for growth and health.
- Nonchalant: Calm and relaxed, showing confidence.
- Natural: Genuine, authentic, and easy-going.
- Newfound: Recently discovered or appreciated.
Short Words that Start with N
- No: Used to indicate a negative response.
- Net: A fabric with holes, often used for catching fish.
- Now: At the present time or moment.
- Nod: A quick movement of the head up and down.
- Nap: A short sleep during the day.
- New: Recently made, created, or acquired.
- Nip: A quick, small bite or pinch.
- Nut: A hard-shelled fruit, like an almond or walnut.
- Nil: Zero or none.
- Nag: To repeatedly urge or complain.
- Net: Material with holes used to catch things.
Foods that Start with N
- Noodles: Long, thin pasta often used in soups and stir-fries.
- Nectarine: A smooth-skinned fruit similar to a peach.
- Nuts: Edible seeds with a hard shell, like almonds or walnuts.
- Nutmeg: A spice used in baking and cooking.
- Naan: A type of flatbread from India.
- Nachos: Tortilla chips topped with cheese and other toppings.
- Nori: Seaweed used in Japanese cooking, especially for sushi.
- Nutella: A chocolate and hazelnut spread.
- Nuggets: Small pieces of breaded and fried chicken.
- Nougat: A candy made from sugar, honey, and nuts.
- Noodle Soup: A broth-based dish with noodles and vegetables.
- Nicoise Salad: A salad made with tuna, olives, and green beans.
Instruments that Start with N
- Nyckelharpa: A traditional Swedish stringed instrument.
- Nose Flute: A flute played using the nose.
- Nagara: A drum used in Indian folk music.
- Nagak: A Korean horn used in ceremonial music.
- Nai: A type of pan flute common in Eastern Europe.
- Nadaswaram: A South Indian woodwind instrument.
- Ney: A type of flute from the Middle East.
- Ngoni: A string instrument from West Africa.
- Nylon Guitar: A classical guitar with nylon strings.
- Nohkan: A Japanese flute used in Noh theater.
- Nord Synthesizer: A brand of keyboard synthesizers.
Occupations and Hobbies that Start with N
- Nurse: A healthcare professional who cares for patients.
- Navigator: Someone who directs the course of a vehicle.
- Novelist: A person who writes novels.
- Naturalist: A person who studies nature and wildlife.
- Nanny: Someone who cares for children in a private household.
- Nutritionist: A specialist in diet and nutrition.
- Neurologist: A doctor who specializes in the brain and nerves.
- Notary: An official who certifies legal documents.
- Newscaster: A person who reports the news on TV or radio.
- Numismatist: A person who studies or collects coins.
- Network Engineer: Someone who designs and maintains computer networks.
- Nail Artist: A person who decorates fingernails with designs.
Countries and Places that Start with N
- Nepal: A country in South Asia, known for Mount Everest.
- Nigeria: A country in West Africa.
- Netherlands: A country in Europe, also known as Holland.
- New Zealand: An island nation in the Pacific Ocean.
- Norway: A country in Northern Europe.
- Namibia: A country in Southern Africa.
- Nashville: A city in Tennessee, USA, known for its music.
- Nairobi: The capital city of Kenya.
- Naples: A historic city in Italy.
- Nagoya: A city in Japan.
- New Orleans: A city in Louisiana, USA, famous for jazz.
- Nevada: A state in the USA known for Las Vegas.
Languages that Start with N
- Norwegian: The official language of Norway.
- Nepali: The official language of Nepal.
- Navajo: A Native American language spoken in the southwestern USA.
- Nahuatl: A language spoken by Indigenous people in Mexico.
- Ndebele: A Bantu language spoken in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
- Norwegian Nynorsk: One of two written forms of Norwegian.
- Nyoro: A language spoken in Uganda.
- Nyanja: A Bantu language spoken in Zambia and Malawi.
- Northern Sotho: A language spoken in South Africa, also known as Pedi.
- Ndonga: A language spoken in Namibia and Angola.
- Nauruan: The official language of Nauru.
- Norman: A Romance language spoken in the Channel Islands and parts of France.
Science Words that Start with N
- Neutron: A subatomic particle with no electric charge.
- Nitrogen: A colorless, odorless gas that makes up most of Earth’s atmosphere.
- Nucleus: The central part of an atom or cell.
- Neuron: A cell that transmits nerve impulses in the body.
- Nanometer: A unit of measurement, one-billionth of a meter.
- Newton: A unit of force named after Isaac Newton.
- Nebula: A cloud of gas and dust in space.
- Nucleotide: The basic building block of DNA and RNA.
- Nutrient: A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth.
- Nervous System: The network of nerve cells that sends signals throughout the body.
- Naphthalene: A chemical compound often used in mothballs.
- Nova: A star that suddenly increases in brightness.
Animals that Start with N
- Narwhal: A marine mammal with a long, spiral tusk.
- Newt: A small amphibian similar to a lizard.
- Nightingale: A songbird known for its beautiful voice.
- Numbat: A small marsupial from Australia that eats termites.
- Nuthatch: A small bird that climbs trees headfirst.
- Nile Crocodile: A large crocodile species found in Africa.
Plants that Start with N
- Nasturtium: A bright, edible flower often used in salads.
- Neem: A tree native to India known for its medicinal properties.
- Narcissus: A spring-flowering bulb, also known as daffodil.
- Nutmeg: A spice derived from the seeds of the nutmeg tree.
- Nettle: A plant with stinging hairs on its leaves.
- Nepenthes: A carnivorous plant, also known as the pitcher plant.
- Nandina: An evergreen shrub with red berries, also called heavenly bamboo.
- Norfolk Pine: A tree often used as a houseplant or Christmas tree.
- Navel Orange: A type of orange with a navel-like formation on the skin.
- Nightshade: A family of plants that includes tomatoes and potatoes.
- Nipah Palm: A tropical palm that grows in mangrove areas.
Adjectives that Start with N

Winter Words that Start with N

Things That Start with N

Christmas Words that Start with N

Gabrielle Kotkov is an AMI-trained 3-6 Montessorian and educational consultant. She has a Master's Degree in Child Studies and is certified in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She is particularly interested in the intersection between Montessori education and multilingualism, which led her to create the Multilingual Montessori website and podcast. Gabrielle has taught in schools in NYC, Sicily, London, and Austin, and is currently on the teaching faculty of the West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program, an AMS training center in NYC.