aisle
EYE-uhl
/aɪl/
A passage between rows of seats, especially in a church or theater.
In a wedding context, it specifically refers to the path the bride or couple walks toward the altar.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'ala', meaning 'wing'. It originally referred to the side wings of a church building. Over time, the 's' was added due to a mistaken association with the word 'isle' (island).
Word relationships
- passageway: A passageway is any path; an aisle is specifically between rows of seating.
- corridor: A corridor is usually a hallway between rooms, not seats.
Commonly confused with
- isle: An isle is an island; an aisle is a walkway.
Collocations
- walk down the aisle
- center aisle
- aisle seat
Idioms & expressions
- walk down the aisle
Example sentences
- "The guests stood up as the bride began her walk down the aisle." Describing the start of the ceremony.
- "After five years of dating, they finally decided to walk down the aisle." A common idiom for getting married.
Memory hook
Aisle starts with 'A' like the 'Area' you walk through. I'll (aisle) walk down the path.
When not to use
Don't confuse it with 'isle' (a small island).
Fun facts
- The 's' in aisle is silent and was added by 17th-century printers who thought it was related to 'island' (isle).
Also appears in
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