isle

Everyday

An island, especially a small one or one in a name, mainly used in poems and place names. tree →

In the lessons

In geography, place names use isle: the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight, the British Isles, the Isle of Skye. In poems and songs, isle sounds old and special. Phrases: the British Isles, Emerald Isle (Ireland), treasure isle.

Examples

• The Isle of Wight is off the south coast of England. tree →
• We went on holiday to the Isle of Man. tree →
• Ireland is called the Emerald Isle. tree →
• The pirate's map showed a small isle. tree →
• The British Isles include Great Britain, Ireland and many smaller islands. tree →
• The poem was about a peaceful green isle. tree →

Note

The s is silent: isle sounds like I'll and aisle (the gap between rows of seats). Homophones: isle, aisle, I'll. Islet means a very small island.

In Jewish tradition

The prophets and psalms use "isles" for distant lands across the sea. They call the isles to rejoice at God's reign and to fear God's power, and in Esther the king taxes the isles of the sea.

Interpretation. The "isles of the nations" in Genesis 10 are read as the lands where Noah's descendants spread and formed separate peoples. The psalms and prophets are read as saying that even the farthest nations come under God's rule.

Examples

• Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. (Torah GEN.10.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad. (Writings PSA.97.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• The isles saw, and feared; the ends of the earth trembled; they drew near, and came. (Prophets ISA.41.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. (Writings EST.10.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

The s is silent: isle sounds like I'll and aisle (the gap between rows of seats). Homophones: isle, aisle, I'll. Islet means a very small island.