fortes

Forte, and its plural fortes, is a term used in English with two related senses. In music notation, forte indicates a loud dynamic, one part of a system of markings that also includes piano (soft), mezzo-forte, and fortissimo. In general English, forte refers to a person’s area of expertise or talent. The plural fortes is rare in ordinary writing; when multiple strengths are discussed, writers more commonly use strengths, specialties, or areas of expertise.

Etymology and usage linger from Romance languages. Forte comes from Italian, where it means strong, and the musical sense of a dynamic marking arose through Italian notation and usage, later entering English via French and Italian scholarly texts. In English, the sense relating to talent typically uses the spelling forte, while the plural forte is mostly encountered in formal or biographical prose.

Usage notes and distinctions are important for readers. The musical forte is a directive about volume, not a description of skill, whereas when one speaks of a person’s forte, it denotes a strong suit or area of proficiency. The two senses are etymologically connected but function differently in sentences. A sentence such as “Her forte is mathematics” signals a talent, while “play this passage fortissimo” instructs performers to increase volume. The plural fortes can appear when listing several talents, though it remains less common than simply saying strengths.