The phrase "small fortune" is an expression used to describe a substantial amount of money, albeit not as much as a "fortune". The phonetic transcription of this phrase in British English is /smɔːl ˈfɔːtʃən/, while in American English, it is transcribed as /smɑːl ˈfɔrʧən/. The spelling of the word "small" is pronounced with a long 'a' and a silent 'l'. Meanwhile, "fortune" is spelled with a 'f' sound rather than a 'ph' sound, as in the word "phone".
A "small fortune" is an idiomatic expression used to describe a relatively large amount of money or wealth, although it may not be considered significant in comparison to other fortunes. This phrase refers to a sum of money that is substantial or considerable in size, but when viewed in the context of much greater or extravagant wealth, it may appear relatively modest or insignificant.
The term implies that the amount of money being referred to would be highly valuable or significant to average individuals or a specific group, but not to someone who possesses or is accustomed to much greater amounts of wealth. It suggests that the sum is noteworthy, perhaps even remarkable, when considered by those with less wealth, but it may be seen as relatively modest or unremarkable by individuals who are accustomed to having considerably larger financial resources or fortunes.
The phrase "small fortune" is often used in a figurative sense to highlight the subjective nature of wealth and to provide context for understanding the relative value of a sum of money. It can be used to convey the idea that despite the relative modesty of the amount being referred to, it still holds considerable value or significance for those who do not possess such wealth.
The term "small fortune" originated from the combining of two separate words: "small" and "fortune".
The word "small" can be traced back to the Old English word "smæl", which means "not large in size or amount". It has remained relatively unchanged over time and retained its meaning of being something diminutive or not significant.
On the other hand, the term "fortune" has its roots in the Latin word "fortuna", which means "chance" or "luck". It later evolved to include the concept of wealth or possessions acquired through luck or chance. The word "fortune" gradually spread through various European languages and was adopted into Middle English as "fortune" with a similar meaning.