Pronouncing “н”

The sound н is a voiceless fricative made deep in the throat. There is no exact English equivalent.

Exercise 1

1. Close your mouth.
2. Block the windpipe using the muscles inside the throat.
3. Put your hand over the Adam’s apple.
4. Tighten and relax the throat muscles.
5. Feel the muscles contracting.

Exercise 2

Repeat the same action with the mouth open. Try breathing out through the mouth. Were you able to breathe freely, the windpipe would not be fully blocked.

Exercise 3

1. Tighten the same throat muscles.
2. Allow only a small amount of air to pass.
3. Make a sound similar to fogging a pair of glasses.

The rough air sound produced is н.

Exercise 4

Lower your head until the chin touches the top of the chest. Repeat the third exercise. This position may make the throat movement easier to feel.

Pronouncing н takes regular practice. First practise the sound alone, then practise it inside words.