also: にゃーん · にゃあん
Onomatopoeic representation of a cat's meow. Used in casual speech, manga, and children's contexts.
The cat meowed.
Childish or affectionate word for a cat, similar to 'kitty' in English. Used by or with young children.
The kitten went 'nyan'.
There's a kitty over there.
にゃー is the standard onomatopoeia for a cat's meow, while にゃん sounds cuter and more childish, often used in affectionate or playful contexts.
Standard hiragana spelling for the cat sound and the child word for cat.
Katakana variant, often used for emphasis or in manga.
Katakana drawn-out meow.
Drawn-out meow sound.
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.