niche

== English == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from French niche, from Middle French niche, from Old French niche, from nicher (“to make a nest”) (modern French nicher), from Vulgar Latin *nīdicāre, from Latin nīdus (“nest”). Doublet of nidus and nide via Latin and nest via Proto-Indo-European; also related to nyas. === Pronunciation === (General Australian, Canada, Ireland, UK) IPA(key): /niːʃ/ Rhymes: -iːʃ (UK) IPA(key): /nɪt͡ʃ/(dated or Americanism, often proscribed) (US) IPA(key): /niʃ/, /nɪʃ/, /nɪt͡ʃ/ Rhymes: -ɪtʃ === Noun === niche (plural niches) (architecture) A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. Synonym: nook Any similar position, literal or figurative. Specifically, a cremation niche; a columbarium. (ecology) A function within an ecological system to which an organism is especially suited. (by extension) Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business. Synonyms: specialty, specialization (Islam) An arrow woven into a prayer rug pointing in the direction of qibla. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === niche (third-person singular simple present niches, present participle niching, simple past and past participle niched) (transitive) To place in a niche. a niched vase (transitive, marketing) To specialize in a niche, or particular narrow section of the market. === Adjective === niche (comparative more niche or nicher, superlative most niche or nichest) Pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal; obscure. ==== Translations ==== === See also === niché === Anagrams === Chien, chine, chiné == Dutch == === Etymology === Borrowed from French niche, from Middle French niche, from Old French niche. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /niʃ/ Hyphenation: ni‧che === Noun === niche f (plural niches, diminutive nicheje n) (especially in ecology and business) a niche ==== See also ==== nis == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /niʃ/ === Etymology 1 === Inherited from Middle French niche, from Old French niche, deverbal of nichier (“make a nest”), from an unattested verb *nīdicāre, from Latin nīdus (“nest”). ==== Noun ==== niche f (plural niches) (architecture) niche (ecology) niche niche kennel (house or shelter for a dog) ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Descendants ===== Haitian Creole: nich → Danish: niche → Dutch: nis, niche (see there for further descendants) → English: niche → Macedonian: ни́ша (níša) → Russian: ни́ша (níša) → Swedish: nisch ===== See also ===== chenil === Etymology 2 === See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. ==== Verb ==== niche inflection of nicher: first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive second-person singular imperative === Further reading === “niche”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 === Anagrams === chien, chine, Chine, chiné == Norman == === Etymology === From Old French niche, from nichier (“make a nest”), from Latin nīdus (“nest”). === Noun === niche f (plural niches) (Jersey) kennel ==== Synonyms ==== câniche == Spanish == === Etymology === === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈnit͡ʃe/ [ˈni.t͡ʃe] Rhymes: -itʃe Syllabification: ni‧che === Noun === niche m (plural niches) (Venezuela, slang, offensive) low-class === Further reading === “niche”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025