The spelling of the word "forte" can be confusing as it doesn't follow standard English pronunciation rules. The correct way to pronounce "forte" is [fɔrt] in IPA phonetic transcription. Many people mistake it for "forté" ([fɔrteɪ]), as that matches the French pronunciation, but in English, "forte" simply means a person's strength or strong point. So the next time you're unsure of how to spell or say "forte," remember it's [fɔrt], not [fɔrteɪ].
Forte is a noun in the English language that originated from the Italian word "fortezza," meaning "strength" or "strong point." It refers to a specific talent, skill, or area in which a person excels or specializes. More commonly, it is used to describe someone's prominent or exceptional capability or advantage in a particular field.
In music, "forte" also serves as a dynamic marking or musical term, denoting a loud or strong volume. It indicates that a note or passage should be played forcefully or with intensity, contrasting with quieter dynamics such as piano or mezzo forte.
In general usage, the term "forte" can be applied to various domains and contexts. For instance, someone might have a natural forte for mathematics, painting, or public speaking. It reflects a person's inherent aptitude, strength, or proficiency in a specific area, often developed through experience or innate abilities.
Moreover, "forte" can be used metaphorically to describe a prominent advantage in one's character or personality. For example, patience can be considered a person's forte when dealing with difficult situations or people.
Overall, "forte" describes a person's exceptional ability or talent in a particular field, emphasizing their strong point or specialty. It is widely used and understood both in casual conversations as well as in professional contexts to denote expertise or excellence in a specific domain.
• Strong point; that in which any one excels.
• In music, with force; loudly.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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 "forte" has its roots in Italian and French. It ultimately comes from the Latin word "fortis", which means "strong" or "powerful". In Italian, "forte" means "strong", and in French, it means "loud". In music, "forte" is used as a directive to indicate that a passage should be played loudly or with strength.