🇺🇸
/ˈeɪlz/
🇺🇸
/ˈeɪlz/
🇬🇧
/ˈeɪlz/
🇬🇧
/ˈeɪlz/
Plural
aisles
An aisle is a long, narrow passageway between rows of seats, shelves, or other structures—like the walkway between pews in a church, between airplane seats, or between product shelves in a supermarket. It's literally the 'path you walk down'—whether walking toward marriage ('down the aisle') or grabbing cereal ('in aisle 7').
She walked confidently down the aisle in her wedding dress.
Please return the soda to aisle 5 so other shoppers can find it easily.
The flight attendant asked passengers to remain seated until the plane reached the gate and the aisle was clear.
In Gothic cathedrals, tall aisles flank the central nave, supported by elegant columns.
He grabbed a shopping cart and headed straight for the snack aisle.
ala
Comes from the Latin noun 'ala' (genitive 'alae'), meaning 'wing'. In architectural and ecclesiastical Latin, 'ala' was extended metaphorically to denote a lateral division or side section—like the 'wings' of a building or church. This evolved into Old French 'aile', then Middle English 'ile'/'ale', eventually standardized as 'aisle'. Examples include aisle, aileron (a movable wing surface), alar (an anatomical term meaning 'pertaining to the wing or side').