What does niche mean?
Word: Niche
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Niche means a small hollow in a wall, often used for a lamp or an ornament. It can also mean a role or activity that suits someone very well.
Synonyms: alcove, nook
Word origin: From French niche, from the verb nicher, which goes back to Latin nidus.
How do you spell niche?
Syllables: niche
Tricky part: However you say this word, the sound at the end is spelt che, so students who spell by ear write nich, nishe or nitch.
Watch out for: nich, nishe, nitch
Memory tip: Picture the silent e as a small lamp standing in a wall hollow, just behind the ch.
Niche in a sentence
Example 1: A small clay lamp stood in a niche above the door.
Example 2: Our family photo fits neatly into the niche beside the staircase.
Example 3: Her tiny bakery has made a niche for itself with ragi cookies.
Fun Fact
Ecologists use niche for the exact role a plant or animal fills in its habitat, such as an insect that feeds on only one kind of flower.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
n____che
a) i
b) ee
c) ie
d) ei
Show answer
a) i. A lone vowel stands after the n, however long you make the sound.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
Niche goes back to Latin nidus. What did nidus mean?
a) a wall
b) a nest
c) a shelf
d) a corner
Show answer
b) a nest. French nicher meant to make a nest, and a hollow in a wall looks like a snug little nest.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
After trying many clubs, Reva found her ___ in the debating team, where her quick thinking shone.
a) nugget
b) niche
c) notch
d) nudge
Show answer
b) niche. The sentence needs the place that suits her best.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its synonym:
1. niche 2. summit 3. brink a. edge b. peak c. recess
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
d) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
Show answer
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. A hollow set back in a wall is a recess, a hilltop is a peak, and the brink of something is its edge.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A niche market is one that ___.
a) trades only in old and used goods
b) opens only in the very largest cities
c) sells everything to everybody in town
d) serves a small, special group of buyers
Show answer
d) serves a small, special group of buyers
2. Which of these would you most likely place in the niche of a wall?
a) a full-size sofa
b) a family car
c) a long dining table
d) a small flower vase
Show answer
d) a small flower vase
