forte

UK: ˈfɔːteɪ | US: ˈfɔːrteɪ

Definition

  1. n. 1. A person's strong suit or most developed skill.

  2. n. 2. (Music) A loud or forceful passage in a piece of music (from Italian "forte," meaning "strong").

Structure
forte <strong>
Etymology

The word "forte" entered English in the 17th century directly from Italian, where it means "strong" or "loud" (in musical contexts). It retains its original spelling and dual meaning in English:

  1. In general usage, it metaphorically refers to a person's "strength" or area of expertise.
  2. In music, it preserves its literal Italian meaning as a dynamic marking for volume.
Examples

  1. Public speaking has always been her forte.

  2. The pianist played the finale with a dramatic forte.

  3. While math was his forte, he struggled with literature.

  4. The conductor signaled the orchestra to switch from piano to forte.

  5. Cooking Italian cuisine is not my forte, but I enjoy trying.