Borrowed 1640–50; earlier fort < Middle French; disyllabic pronunciation by association with Italian forte, from Latin fortis (“strong”). Doublet of fort and fortis.
Meanings
A strength or talent; a strong point.
Between ourselves, the country is rather triste, and you have given me positively a sensation; yet my forte is not the Arcadian: however, I will do my petit possible to console you for the loss of le beau Lindor, who was my predecessor. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 115:
He writes respectably, but poetry is not his forte.
The strong part of a sword blade, close to the hilt.
da stærke side (strength or talent) · de Stärke (strength or talent) · hu erősség (strength or talent) · sv styrka (strength or talent) · cmn 強項 /强项 (strength or talent) · es fuerte (strength or talent) · cs silná stránka (strength or talent) · sv paradgren (strength or talent) · bg си́ла (strength or talent) · bg силна страна (strength or talent) · ru си́ла (strength or talent) · da styrke (strength or talent) · pt forte (strength or talent) · hu erős (the strong part of a sword blade, close to the hilt) · fi vahvuus (strength or talent) · fi vahva puoli (strength or talent) · ru си́льная сторона́ (strength or talent) · it forte (strength or talent) · ja 強み (strength or talent) · cmn 長處 /长处 (strength or talent) · pl mocna strona (strength or talent) · lt stiprybė (strength or talent) · de starke Seite (strength or talent) · fi juuri (the strong part of a sword blade, close to the hilt) · it punto forte (strength or talent) · es punto fuerte (strength or talent) · sv stark sida (strength or talent) · fo styrki (strength or talent)
forte en · ADJ · etymology 2
Pronunciation
/ˈfɔːteɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈfoəteɪ/ non-hoarse-horse; non-rhotic
/ˈfoɹteɪ/ (General-American)
/ˈfoːɹteɪ/ non-hoarse-horse; rhotic
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian forte (“strong”).
Meanings
Loud.
This passage is forte, then there's a diminuendo to mezzo piano.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
most forte
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
more forte
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
Translations (6)
hu forte (music: loud) · zh 強 /强 (music: loud) · ru фо́рте (music: loud) · bg силно (music: loud) · fi forte (music: loud) · de forte (music: loud)
fi voimakkaasti (music: loudly) · ja フォルテ (music: loudly) · ru форте (music: loudly) · de forte (music: loudly) · fi fortena (music: loudly) · bg форте (music: loudly) · cmn 強 /强 (music: loudly) · hu forte (music: loudly) · fi kovaa (music: loudly)
forte en · NOUN · etymology 2
Pronunciation
/ˈfɔːteɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈfoəteɪ/ non-hoarse-horse; non-rhotic
/ˈfoɹteɪ/ (General-American)
/ˈfoːɹteɪ/ non-hoarse-horse; rhotic
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian forte (“strong”).
Meanings
A passage in music to be played loudly; a loud section of music.
This forte marks the climax of the second movement.
piano-forte (terms containing the word "forte" (could be from any etymology above, or etymologically unrelated)) · powder-forte (terms containing the word "forte" (could be from any etymology above, or etymologically unrelated)) · peine forte et dure (terms containing the word "forte" (could be from any etymology above, or etymologically unrelated)) · eau forte (terms containing the word "forte" (could be from any etymology above, or etymologically unrelated)) · dagesh forte (terms containing the word "forte" (could be from any etymology above, or etymologically unrelated)) · piano · skill · skilled