Nyah vs Nyao - What's the difference?

As interjections the difference between nyah and nyao

is that nyah is expressing smug triumph while nyao is the cry of a cat.

(en interjection)

Expressing smug triumph.

* 1993 , Ted Andrews, Enchantment of the faerie realm (page 74)

When the waves didn't catch me, I would laugh and sing out, "Nyah , nyah, nyah!"

* {{quote-news, year=2009, date=August 7, author=George Vecsey, title=On Big Day for Bronx, Cheating Is Nonissue, work=New York Times citation

, passage=Yankee fans have been saying, Nyah, nyah , I told you so, since the news was revealed in The New York Times. }}

(en interjection)

(chiefly, anime and manga fandom) The cry of a cat.

* {{quote-newsgroup, year=1994, date=13 December, author=

Mark Maestas, title=Dream Tournament 3: Round 1 Results, Part 2 nyao ," she then began to lick and clean herself off.}}'>citation

* {{quote-newsgroup, year=1997, date=16 August, author=

Terra, title=[XOver] [FanFic] Star98 - Episode 2: The Lost Senshi citation

* {{quote-newsgroup, year=2001, date=25 March, author=

Aylakitty [username], title=Re: If AFD was a family... Nyao ! Heehee! :::lies down on a rug and purrs:::}}'>citation