# forte

/ˈfɔɹt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forte
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a strength or talent

noun · CEFR B2

something that you are very good at doing.

For teachers: a person's strong point or particular area of expertise.

- Cooking has never been his forte, so he usually orders food instead.
- While she was a competent researcher, public speaking was never her forte, and she often felt anxious before major presentations.

Usage: Often used in the negative to politely describe a lack of skill.

Teaching tip: In American English, this is usually pronounced 'for-tay', while some traditional British speakers prefer 'fort'.

### 2. loud music

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

used in music to show that a section should be played loudly.

For teachers: indicating a loud volume; used as a musical direction.

- The final part of the song is forte and very exciting.
- The conductor requested a more pronounced forte during the brass fanfare to ensure it carried over the strings.

Usage: Usually placed after the noun it describes in musical scores.

### 3. played loudly

adverb · CEFR C1 · Technical

played or sung with a loud sound.

For teachers: to be performed loudly or with force.

- The pianist played the closing chords forte.
- The score instructs the woodwinds to play forte, providing a sharp contrast to the preceding delicate melody.

### 4. part of a sword

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

the strongest part of a sword blade, near the handle.

For teachers: the part of a sword blade between the middle and the hilt, which is the strongest portion for parrying.

- He used the forte of his blade to block the opponent's strike.
- A skilled fencer knows to catch the opponent's tip with the forte of their own blade to maintain control of the engagement.

## Examples

- Cooking has never been my forte.
- While she is a brilliant coder, public speaking is not exactly her forte.
- The diplomat found that while high-level negotiations were his forte, the tedious administrative tasks of the embassy were far more challenging.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.