How to Pronounce Niche
How do you say niche?
NEESH
- IPA (US)
- /niːʃ/
- IPA (UK)
- /niːʃ/
neesh
One syllable.
Is it NITCH or NEESH?
- ✓ Also accepted NITCH: Also correct. NITCH is the older English pronunciation and is still used in both the US and the UK. NEESH is the more common choice in Britain today, and both are widely used in America.
- ✗ Not standard NEE-chay: Niche has one syllable. The final E is silent.
Niche pronunciation in British vs American English
American English: Both NITCH and NEESH are standard. NEESH is especially common in business use, as in 'a niche market'.
British English: NEESH is the usual pronunciation. NITCH is older and less common.
Australian English: Usually NEESH, though NITCH is also heard.
What does niche mean?
A shallow recess in a wall, made to hold a statue or ornament. Figuratively, a role that suits someone perfectly, or a specialised part of a market.
Where does niche come from?
From French niche, related to nicher, 'to make a nest', and ultimately Latin nidus, 'nest'. English borrowed the word in the early 1600s and anglicised it to NITCH; the French-style NEESH gained ground during the 20th century.
Niche in a sentence
- She found her niche teaching pronunciation online.
- The vase sits in a niche above the fireplace.
- It's a niche product with a small but loyal audience.