Spanish word

nicho

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈnitʃo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounniche

Example

Hay un nicho en la entrada de la casa.

There is a niche at the entrance of the house.

Illustration for nicho (niche)

More examples

Colocaron una planta en el nicho del salón.

They placed a plant in the niche in the living room.

Core concept

Nest-like hollow for storing or protecting objects, literal or metaphorical.

Common phrases

  • nicho en la entrada

    niche in the entrance

  • nicho funerario

    columbarium niche

  • nicho decorativo

    decorative niche

Similar words

sitio: Location or point within a broader space.
espacio: Portion of space where people or items can occupy or move.
hueco: Hollow or gap in a solid surface that can hold an item.
rincón: Tight corner inside a room or area where two walls meet.

Definition in Spanish

Pequeño hueco natural o construido en una superficie para poner o proteger algo, y por extensión un espacio o ámbito especializado.

Word origin

The word comes from Latin nidus 'nest', where the sense of a nest-like hollow shifted to built recesses in surfaces and later to metaphorical specialized areas.

Usage tips

  • Spanish nicho uses a 'ch' sound as in church, unlike English niche which is often pronounced 'neesh', and nicho de mercado usually means a market segment rather than a literal hole.

Opposites

  • protuberanciaprotuberancenoun
  • bultobulgenoun

Word lists with this word