I’m seeing this more and more. People confusing “aisle” and “isle”. Example: “Every time I go to the grocery store I have to visit the isle with the BBQ sauce.” (This is not the only example. Only the most recent. And it’s different people.)
I am fairly certain that your grocery store does not have isles.
Homophone confusion. Grr.
For reference, here are the definitions from Merriam-Webster. Note the differing etymologies.
aisle
Pronunciation: \ˈī(-ə)l\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ile, alteration of ele, from Anglo-French, literally, wing, from Latin ala; akin to Old English eaxl shoulder, Latin axis axletree — more at AXIS
Date: 15th century
1 : the side of a church nave separated by piers from the nave proper
2 a (1) : a passage (as in a theater or railroad passenger car) separating sections of seats (2) : such a passage regarded as separating opposing parties in a legislature b : a passage (as in a store or warehouse) for inside traffic
isle
Pronunciation: \ˈī(-ə)l\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ile, isle, from Latin insula
Date: 13th century
: island; especially : islet 1
11:40 AM
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