What is syllabic n?

Syllabic or mora n is the item represented by kana n (ん or ン). In Japanese this is called hatsuon (撥音).

This sound came into being around the year 1,000 A.D., after the katakana had already been created, and so originally there was no equivalent katakana. See How did katakana and hiragana originate? It has four different pronunciations in modern Japanese. See What are the differences between kana writing and pronunciation? A syllabic n is considered to be one mora. See What is the difference between a mora and a syllable?

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