Does anyone pronounce 'niche' to rhyme with pitch?

[WithOnlyTheMemories]

Doing an online crossword today and the clue was 'rhymes with sheesh or pitch depending who you ask'

The answer (spoilers sorry) was niche. I couldn't believe anyone pronounced this to rhyme with pitch so I googled and the site I found seemed to say that the 'nitch' pronunciation was the most common.

Is that correct? If so, how have I never heard that in my 4 decades on this earth?

I think Americans pronounce it "nitch" and it sounds dumb

That’s the American pronunciation

I do too and I can't seem to stop even though I know I sound like a wanker.

No. And I’m American. We definitely don’t pronounce it like that. Maybe some dumb redneck somewhere does. But no.

If you're Spanish yes. Not if you're a cockney.

I would pronounce niche the same as quiche...🤔

My sister spells and says clique "click" and "clicky". She tells me it's dialect. We have the same dialect. It's wrong!! But does seem to be becoming all-pervasive.

What would a niche quiche be anyway, something like ham and jam flavour, or fish and chip. I'd like to see that in a cafe.

It's an American English pronunciation. Widespread there, because, I suppose, most Americans don't speak or come into contact with French.

Americans do.

<shudders>

For the Spanish yes, Gregg Wallace not so much

@soupyspoon I'm thinking Monty python now 🤣🤣 spam and jam 🤣

(Should say some do. i don't know if it's ubiquitous there)

Many US-ians say "nitch". Also "rowter/rowder" for router, or "rowt" for route. (I used to work in telecoms industry.)

I say choreetho, brusketta and panino (for a single panini) so I am every bit as annoying as my rest-rong in-laws.

I think it’s an American pronunciation… an American professor at uni said ‘nitch’ UK and other nationalities said ‘neesh’

Americans.

Also have a university called Notre Dame that they pronounce Notetre Daim. They dgaf about English or indeed the French.

I agree

That’s just because people see it written that way online, and the mis-spelling and allied mispronunciation spreads. A lot of people’s only exposure to the written word is unproofed wittering on SM. See also ‘Chester draws’, ‘walla’ etc.

Having just done the same puzzle - it's clearly an American thing

Me too 😂

I hope you're not being a beesh 😅

I agree with PP, in that “nitch” is a “niche” way of saying little recessed shelf. Natch.

Recessed shelving is “alcove” 😂

I think it’s dialect, I used to live in Plymouth and clicky was used a lot