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N in Old English Letters

By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · · How we review content

Capital N
Lowercase n

Rendered in the UnifrakturMaguntia typeface, an open-source font. It is a reference shape, not a hand-drawn letter.

N is the letter on which blackletter lowercase is built, since its arch and two stems are the pattern for h, m, r and part of u. The capital is another matter, with an ornamental diagonal and swelling stems that make it easy to read as M or H. Learn the lowercase first and the capital will follow.

Outline version to colour or trace

Open in the Old English text generator →

How to draw a Old English capital N

  1. 1Draw the left stem with the pen at about 45 degrees, from a diamond head to a diamond foot, and leave space for the diagonal.
  2. 2Add the diagonal as a thin stroke from the top of the left stem to the foot of the right stem, using the corner of the nib.
  3. 3Draw the right stem as a thick downstroke parallel to the left, joined to the diagonal at its top with a small curl.
  4. 4Add a decorative swelling at the top left and check that the thin diagonal stays visibly lighter than both stems.

Tip: Draw the diagonal first in pencil as a guide, then ink the stems around it. A diagonal that wanders makes the capital N resemble a damaged M.

How to draw a Old English lowercase n

  1. 1Draw the first stem as a short downstroke with a diamond head and a flat foot at the baseline.
  2. 2Start a thin hairline from the top of that stem and bend it right, making the shoulder of the arch.
  3. 3Bring the arch down into a second stem with the same weight as the first, ending in a diamond foot.
  4. 4Check the white space inside the arch. It should be the same size as the gap between letters.

Tip: Write a row of ten n's and judge them by the white spaces only. That is the standard test for the colour of a blackletter text, and n shows it best.

What makes N awkward or easy

N is awkward in the capital because its single diagonal carries the whole letter, and the ornaments can bury it. The lowercase is the reference letter, so any error in the arch repeats across h, m and r.

Variations

Textura capital N is often a compact form with a thin diagonal, while Fraktur capital N adds a curved opening and sweeping hairline. Lowercase n is quite consistent between styles, with Rotunda forms having a rounder arch. Take the differences as loose habits.

Common mistakes with Old English N

  • The arch of the lowercase n is rounded like a Roman n.

    Make the shoulder from two angled facets, ending with a pointed join to the stem.

  • The capital's diagonal is as heavy as the stems.

    Use the corner of the nib for the diagonal, so it appears as a distinct thin line.

  • The two stems of the n are different lengths.

    Rule an x-height line and a baseline, and bring each stem to both lines before moving on.

Ideas for Old English N

N is a nice initial for names like Nora, Nathaniel or Nico, and for newspaper titles such as The Northern News. The lowercase n is also the best letter to practise on a bare tattoo stencil, since its rhythm sets the tone for the whole word.

Printable Old English N sheet

Trace the outlines, then fill the empty rows with your own letters.

Old English letter N n Name: ____________________ · coolletteringgenerator.com

Old English N you can copy and paste

Both the capital N and the lowercase n have normal mathematical Fraktur forms. Fraktur: 𝔑 (U+1D511) and 𝔫 (U+1D52B). Bold Fraktur: 𝕹 (U+1D579) and 𝖓 (U+1D593).

Old English N: questions

Why is lowercase n the most important blackletter letter?
Its arch and two stems set the pattern for h, m, r and parts of u, so practising n teaches most of the lowercase. If your n looks even, much of the rest of the alphabet will follow. For that reason, many teachers have students write whole lines of n before moving on to other letters.
Does the capital N look like M in Old English?
It can, because both are built from stems and thin connectors. Keep the N narrower than the M and make sure the diagonal is clear. Avoid adding arches that make it look like three stems. Count the stems: two heavy ones with a diagonal means N, three stems with arches means M.
How do I keep my n's even in a row?
Rule guidelines for the baseline and x-height, then mark equal stem spacing in pencil. Write all stems first, then add the arches. Compare the white space between and inside the stems, which should look equal. Rows of identical n shapes are the quickest way to train your eye to see even texture.

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