Nice vs. Niece — What's the Difference?

Pleasant in manner.

A daughter of one's sibling.

Suitable or appropriate.

A daughter of one's sibling-in-law.

Considerate or kind.

A female relative.

Of good quality.

Often a recipient of affection.

Fine or subtle.

Sometimes used to denote a close familial young female.

Nice ( NEESS, French: [nis]; Nissard Occitan: Niça, classical norm, or Nissa, nonstandard, pronounced [ˈnisa]; Italian: Nizza [ˈnittsa]; Ancient Greek: Νίκαια; Latin: Nicaea) is the seventh most populous urban area in France and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department. The metropolitan area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly 1 million on an area of 744 km2 (287 sq mi).

The daughter of one's brother or sister or of the brother or sister of one's spouse.

Giving pleasure or satisfaction; pleasant or attractive

A daughter of one’s sibling, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law; either the daughter of one's brother ("fraternal niece"), or of one's sister ("sororal niece").

(especially of a difference) slight or subtle

A relative, in general; especially, a descendant, whether male or female; a granddaughter or a grandson.

Fastidious; scrupulous.

A daughter of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law. In modern English, this is the primary meaning.

A resort city on the French Riviera, near the border with Italy; population 348,721 (2007).

A daughter of your brother or sister

Pleasing and agreeable in nature

Having a pleasant or attractive appearance

Exhibiting courtesy and politeness

Of good character and reputation; respectable.

Overdelicate or fastidious; fussy.

Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle

Done with delicacy and skill

Used as an intensive with and

Wanton; profligate

Affectedly modest; coy

Pleasant, satisfactory.

Of a person: friendly, attractive.

Respectable; virtuous.

Shows that the given adjective is desirable, or acts as a mild intensifier; pleasantly, quite.

Showing refinement or delicacy, proper, seemly

(obsolete) Silly, ignorant; foolish.

Particular in one's conduct; scrupulous, painstaking; choosy.

(dated) Having particular tastes; fussy, fastidious.

(obsolete) Particular as regards rules or qualities; strict.

Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle.

(obsolete) Easily injured; delicate; dainty.

(obsolete) Doubtful, as to the outcome; risky.

(colloquial) Nicely.

Used to signify a job well done.

Used to signify approval.

Niceness.

To run a process with a specified (usually lower) priority.

Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate.

Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial.

Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.

Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.

Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment.

Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.

Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc.

Pleasant; kind; as, a nice person.

Well-mannered; well-behaved; as, nice children.

A city in southeastern France on the Mediterranean; the leading resort on the French Riviera

Pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance;

Socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous;

Done with delicacy and skill;

Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted;

Noting distinctions with nicety;

Exhibiting courtesy and politeness;

Typically, "nice" is used to express positive qualities, but it can sometimes be used sarcastically to imply the opposite.

Yes, in some cultures, "niece" might also refer to any younger female relative not directly a daughter of one's siblings, such as cousins' children in informal contexts.

In formal writing, "nice" is sometimes avoided as it is considered vague or weak in description; more specific adjectives are preferred.

Synonyms for "nice" include pleasant, delightful, agreeable, and lovely.

Common expressions include "nice and easy," "have a nice day," and "play nice."

There is no standard diminutive form for "niece" in English, although affectionate terms or pet names may be used informally.

Yes, "niece" can be used in legal contexts to describe familial relationships relevant to inheritance, custody, or other legal matters.

The use of "nice" is generally consistent across English dialects, though intonation and context can affect its interpretation (e.g., sincerity vs. sarcasm).

There is no direct adjective form of "niece"; it is strictly a noun.

Yes, the plural of "niece" is "nieces."

The gender-neutral term that can be used instead of "niece" or "nephew" is "nibling."

The usage of "nice" is similar in both dialects, though colloquial and idiomatic uses may vary slightly.

In literature, "nice" can be nuanced to develop character or set tone, often implying more than just pleasantness.

In some cultures, being too "nice" might be seen as insincere or superficial, depending on the context.

Historically, "niece" has been important in discussing familial lineage and inheritance rights, especially in aristocratic societies.