Spanish - Random word-final [ŋ] before vowel?

[Deinonysus]

So, I have heard that an /n/ assimilates to the velar [ŋ] (as in the "ng" in the English word "sing") before another velar consonant such as /x/ or /k/, which makes a lot of sense. But I have also been noticing that a word-final /n/ will also often become /ŋ/ before another word that starts with a vowel.

One example for my latest Babbel lesson is that "ningún amigo" sounded like "ningúng amigo". I have also heard this in Assimil, so it isn't just Babbel.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is there a rule to when you would do this? And is it limited to European Spanish, or does this occur in Latin American Spanish as well?

[RF3]

It’s very common in Central America (not Mexico). It happens whenever the word ends in an “n” before the next word starts with a vowel.

[El Forastero]

What you have mentioned never happens in my accent (Central Andean Colombian), but it's very common in caribbean accents. Indeed, They have also nasal vowels, very strong in Cuba and Puerto Rico, a bit less in Colombian Caribbean region.

So, most Caribbean speakers would pronounce Ningún amigo as /nĩŋgũŋãmiɣo/.

[jmar257]

I only noticed that when I started using FSI Basic Spanish, which is weird because I have used Assimil before. I like it and try to do it because I feel like it flows easier in some cases, but I don't really practice speaking much so my input may not be worth as much on that. I'll readily admit I don't have a specific target accent (if I had to choose, Mexican) beyond a general Latin American-ish Spanish.

[RF3]

I only noticed that when I started using FSI Basic Spanish.

Same here!!! Then I went to El Salvador, where they say it all the time... as well as voseo, which for some reason never gets taught or even brought up in any book or classroom EVER....

[Querneus]

Velar [ŋ] at the end of words is very common in Andalusia, Central America and the Caribbean dialects.

[Cainntear]

So, I have heard that an /n/ assimilates to the velar [ŋ] (as in the "ng" in the English word "sing") before another velar consonant such as /x/ or /k/, which makes a lot of sense. But I have also been noticing that a word-final /n/ will also often become /ŋ/ before another word that starts with a vowel.

One example for my latest Babbel lesson is that "ningún amigo" sounded like "ningúng amigo". I have also heard this in Assimil, so it isn't just Babbel.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is there a rule to when you would do this? And is it limited to European Spanish, or does this occur in Latin American Spanish as well?

In some places the /n/ in this situation is rendered as [m].

As I understand it, Spanish essentially lost any distinction between nasals at the end of the words -- e.g. Bethlehem is Belén. Historically, then, any of [ŋ], [n] and [m] are equally good.

[tungemål]

Here the narrator pronounces ponte as "pong te":
https://youtu.be/vpI4FoON1mg?t=309
I didn't notice this before, but I guess it is normal?

[Saim]

It's also pronounced that way in Spanish as spoken in Galicia and Asturias, as is the case of the Galician and Asturleonese languages.

[Querneus]

Here the narrator pronounces ponte as "pong te":
https://youtu.be/vpI4FoON1mg?t=309
I didn't notice this before, but I guess it is normal?

Is that really an [ŋ]? It just sounds like a lengthened [n:] to me, due to emphasis: [ˈpon:te].