The cluster [nj] at the beginning of a word and between vowels is often realized in urban Genoese and related varieties as [ɲ] (the “gn” sound). Thus we have the pronunciation [ˈɲaːtri] for niatri (“gnatri”), [iɲeˈsjuŋ] for inieçion (“igneçion”), [ˈaɲˑa] for ania (“agna”), etc. Note that masculine singulars ending in -nio [-ɲˑu] regularly form their plural in -nni [-nˑi]: testimònio [testiˈmɔɲˑu] > testimònni [testiˈmɔnˑi], capitanio [kapiˈtaɲˑu] > capitanni [kapiˈtanˑi], etc.

In Genoese it is frequent for -[l]- to shift to -[r]- before guttural and labial consonants: thus, words such as ingleise [iŋˈɡlejze] “English,” biçicletta [bisiˈkletˑa] “bicycle” and complicâ [kuŋpliˈkaː] “complicate” can also be pronounced ingreise [iŋˈɡrejze], biçicretta [bisiˈkretˑa] and compricâ [kuŋpriˈkaː]. In the DEIZE both spellings are reported when equally widespread among speakers. On pronunciation alternations in contemporary Genoese shared by the speaker community, and on their lexicographic representations (partly taken up in DEIZE), see in particular Lusito (2025, § 6).