also: にゃーん · にゃあん
interjection
Onomatopoeic representation of a cat's meow. Used in casual speech, manga, and children's contexts.
猫がにゃんと鳴いた。
The cat meowed.
noun
Childish or affectionate word for a cat, similar to 'kitty' in English. Used by or with young children.
あそこににゃんがいるよ。
There's a kitty over there.
Less common variant of the meow sound.
Onomatopoeic origin, imitating the sound of a cat. The noun sense derives from the sound via children's language.