N is the fourteenth letter of the English alphabet, and a liquid consonant formed by placing the tongue against the line of junction between the upper teeth and the palate, and causing the sound to pass mainly through the nasal passage. It is consequently a nasal letter, and an imperfect mute or semi-vowel. N has only one sound, and is almost silent after m, as in hymn. It is liable to interchange with l, m, and s, of which there are numerous examples in various languages. By the ancients N was used as a numeral, to signify 900; and with a dash over it (\bar{N}), it represented 9000. (For the use of this letter in ancient and modern abbreviations, see ABBREVIATIONS.)