(すみ)っこ

すみっこ
noun
corner; nook (informal)
1. corner; nook; edge
A corner or out-of-the-way spot. An informal, slightly childish variant of 隅 that adds a sense of smallness or coziness.
部屋(へや)(すみ)っこに(すわ)った。
I sat in the corner of the room.
(ねこ)(すみ)っこで(まる)くなっている。
The cat is curled up in the corner.
教室(きょうしつ)(すみ)っこにいつも一人(ひとり)(すわ)っている()がいた。
There was a kid who always sat alone in the corner of the classroom.

(すみ)っこ is a casual, diminutive form of (すみ) (corner). The っこ suffix adds a sense of smallness and is common in informal speech.

The word has gained wider recognition through the popular San-X character franchise 「すみっコぐらし」(Sumikko Gurashi), which features characters who like to gather in corners.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • (すみ): corner — the standard, neutral form
  • (かど): corner — refers to an outer corner or angle, while (すみ) is an inner corner
  • 片隅(かたすみ): a secluded corner — more literary