How to Pronounce “aisle”

American (US)

/aɪl/

British (UK)

/aɪl/

noun — A passage between rows of seats or shelves.

Example: The cereal is in the third aisle.

The s is silent. The s in “aisle” is not pronounced — another letter added to the spelling for etymological reasons rather than to record a sound.

The final e is silent. The transcription /aɪl/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “aisle” is not pronounced.

What does "aisle" mean?

aisle (noun): A passage between rows of seats or shelves. For example — The cereal is in the third aisle.

How do you pronounce "aisle" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "aisle", /aɪl/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "aisle"?

/aɪl/ in American English, /aɪl/ in British English.

• Silent S words