French word

nicher

Pronunciation

IPA/niʃe/

Meaning

  • verbnest

Example

Les oiseaux nichent dans le vieux chêne.

The birds nest in the old oak.

Illustration for nicher (nest)

More examples

Les moineaux nichent souvent près des maisons.

Sparrows often nest near houses.

Core concept

A small protected hollow serving as a place where a bird settles and remains.

Common phrases

  • nicher près des habitations

    nest near homes

  • se nicher sous le toit

    nestle under the roof

Similar words

habiter: To live in a particular place.
s'installer: To settle in and begin living in a place.

Definition in French

Construire un nid; par extension, occuper un endroit abrité pour s'y établir.

Word origin

The verb developed from Old French nichier, inherited from Latin nidificare and linked to the Latin noun nidus, "nest."

Usage tips

  • With the extended meaning, se nicher is followed by a location introduced by dans, as in se nicher dans une vallée.

Other meanings

  • be situatedverb
  • nestleverb

Opposites

  • s'envolerfly awayverb
  • quitterleaveverb

Related words

  • nichéebroodnoun
  • nichoirnest boxnoun
  • nichénestledadjective

Word lists with this word