Sound-alike words

Aisle vs. Isle

Aisle and isle sound the same. An aisle is a passage between rows of seats or shelves, as in a store or plane. An isle is a small island, a word used mostly in poems and place names.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
aisle	noun	a long, narrow passage between rows of seats or shelves
isle	noun	an island, especially a small one; used mostly in poetry and in place names

Aisle

noun: a long, narrow passage between rows of seats or shelves

The rice is in aisle six, next to the pasta.
I always ask for an aisle seat on long flights.

Isle

noun: an island, especially a small one; used mostly in poetry and in place names

The ferry stops at a tiny isle with one lighthouse.
They spent a week on a quiet isle off the coast.

How to remember the difference

Isle and island both start with is and both have a silent s. An aisle, with its extra a, is the walkway in a store.

Good to know

Walking down the aisle at a wedding takes aisle, since it is the passage between rows of seats. Both words have a silent s and rhyme with mile.

Spot the mistake

The cereal is in the third ~~isle~~ aisle on the left.
Correct: The cereal is in the third aisle on the left.
Would you like a window seat or an ~~isle~~ aisle seat?
Correct: Would you like a window seat or an aisle seat?

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. Please keep your bags out of the during the flight.

2. The old poem describes a green in a silver sea.