How to pronounce “niche”
Niche is pronounced /ˈnɪtʃ/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“niche” sound by sound
“niche” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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nTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth, lower the soft palate, and voice the air out through the nose.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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tʃStop the air with the tongue against the ridge, then release it slowly into a /ʃ/, so it is a stop plus a hiss glued into one sound.
Silent letters in “niche”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “niche”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “niche”
Each of these differs from “niche” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “niche”
- How do you pronounce “niche”?
- “niche” is pronounced /ˈnɪtʃ/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “niche”?
- “niche” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- Does “niche” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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