Pronunciation: [ˈalɪz] (IPA) 
The word "alleys" is spelled with two L's and two E's. The first part of the word "allen" is pronounced with a short "a" sound, as in "cat". The second part "ey" is pronounced with a long "e" sound, as in "key". When these two parts are brought together, the word is pronounced as "AL-eez" in IPA phonetic transcription. "Alleys" is commonly used to refer to narrow passageways between buildings or in a bowling alley game.
Alleys (noun) refers to narrow passageways or lanes found between buildings or rows of houses, typically designed for pedestrians or for the passage of vehicles on a smaller scale. These routes are usually narrower than main roads and often serve as shortcuts between two points in a locality, connecting streets or providing alternative access to buildings that are set back from busier thoroughfares.
Alleys are commonly found in urban areas and serve various purposes such as providing access to rear entrances of buildings, housing utilities or service areas, or accommodating garbage collection or parking spaces. Oftentimes, alleys are characterized by their reduced width and lack of direct frontage to buildings, with structures generally facing the main streets instead.
These passage lanes are commonly paved and may feature different paving materials, including concrete, cobblestone, asphalt, or gravel. In some cases, alleys may be adorned with unique architectural elements, such as decorative light fixtures, public art, or landscaping.
In addition to their practical uses, alleys can have cultural or historical significance in certain cities, dating back to their original establishment during town planning or urban development. They may hold nostalgic value, evoke a sense of charm, or be associated with specific cultural activities or events. As urban areas evolve, the presence and maintenance of alleys can vary depending on local regulations, urban planning principles, and the unique needs of each community.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "alley" has its origins in the Old French term "alee" or "alée", which referred to a pathway or a walkway. This Old French term is derived from the Latin word "al(l)ēa", which had the same meaning. The Latin word "al(l)ēa" ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "h₂el-", meaning "to grow, nourish". Over time, the word "alley" specifically came to refer to a narrow lane or pathway between buildings.
