When someone says something is their "forte," they are usually pronouncing it wrong. "Fore-tay" forte is from Italian for "loud." In proper English usage, the term should be pronounced "fort," which comes from the French "forte," meaning strength. The English term fort (or stronghold) is derived from the same root.
On the other hand, due to the way languages change by common usage, one could also say "fort" is becoming proper over time.
Pom_felo
San Antonio, TX
February 2004
OCT 05, 2010 09:06 PM