isle

Pronunciation

• IPA: /aɪl/
• American English: "eye-ul"

Origin

From Middle English ile, from Old French isle (modern French île), from Latin insula meaning "island"

Meanings

1. (noun) A small island, especially one that is remote or scenic
2. (noun) Any island, particularly in poetic or literary contexts

Example Sentences

1. "The remote Scottish isles are known for their rugged beauty."
2. "They spent their honeymoon on a tropical isle in the Pacific."
3. "The British Isles comprise numerous small islands around Great Britain."

Related Words

• Plural: isles
• Adjective: insular
• Synonyms:
  • island
  • islet
  • atoll
  • cay

Word Forms

• Related noun: insularity
• Compound words: isle-dotted, sea-isle

Memorization Tricks

1. Remember "isle" sounds like "I'll" - imagine saying "I'll go to an island"
2. Think of the silent 's' as standing for "sea" surrounding the island
3. The word appears in many place names like "Isle of Man" or "British Isles"

Usage Notes

• The 's' in "isle" is silent, unlike in "island"
• Often used in poetic or literary contexts rather than everyday speech
• Frequently appears in geographical names and terms