Fordtowns is a plural noun that refers to towns located near a ford, a shallow part of a river that can be crossed by foot or vehicle. The word is spelled as [fɔːd-taʊnz], using IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced with the "or" sound, similar to the word "score". The second syllable contains the "ou" diphthong, pronounced like "ow" in "cow". The "s" at the end of the word indicates that it is plural.