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.

As reported by E. G. Parodi, Studj Liguri, in «Archivio glottologico italiano», xiv, 1896, the Genoese prefixes de-, des- and re- lost the -e- and adopted the -i- due to the influence of Italian. For many decades now indeed difende, discorrî, risponde, etc. have replaced defende, descorrî, responde, etc. in spoken language. The forms with -e- are, however, still widely attested in literary written language. In this dictionary, given its primarily didactic purposes (also aimed at recovering some of the more genuine forms, whenever they may interest users), only the forms with -e- are reported. The Italianized forms with -i- are nevertheless to be considered perfectly legitimate.