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.