I am a word that begins with the letter 'i'. If you add the letter 'a' to me, I become a new word with a different meaning but that sounds exactly the same. What word am I?

Why this works

At first glance, this riddle seems to wade into the waters of the impossible, but it cleverly plays on the nuances of language. The word "isle," which refers to a small island, begins with the letter 'i' as the riddle states. When you add the letter 'a,' it transforms into "aisle," a term used for the passageway between rows of seats or shelves, yet both words are pronounced the same way—this delightful twist on homophones is where the magic lies. This clever play on sounds opens the door to a deeper appreciation of how language can shape our understanding. The word "isle" comes from the Old French “ile” and has been used since the 14th century, while "aisle" has its roots in the Latin "ala," meaning "wing," referring to the wing-like shape of a passageway. This riddle not only showcases the beauty of phonetics but also the way simple alterations can lead to entirely different meanings and contexts in our everyday conversations. Fun fact: Homophones like "isle" and "aisle" are a playground for poets and writers, often used to create puns or layers of meaning in literature. The next time you walk down an aisle or dream of a distant isle, remember the playful dance of words that keeps our language so vibrantly alive!