forte

Something that you are particularly good at.

• Cooking is my forte.
• Public speaking has never been his forte.
• Her particular forte is explaining difficult ideas simply.

How to use it: something is someone's forte (Organizing events is her forte.)

Similar words: strength, strong point, specialty, talent

Opposites: weakness

Common phrases: someone's forte, not my forte, a particular forte

The strong part of a sword blade nearest the handle.

• The forte is near the handle.
• She blocked the attack with the forte of her sword.
• A fencer uses the forte to control the opposing blade.

Opposites: foible

Common phrases: the sword's forte, forte of something, use the forte

A part of a piece of music that is played loudly.

• The forte surprised the audience.
• The final forte brings the movement to a dramatic close.
• The conductor asked us to repeat the forte.

Similar words: loud passage

Common phrases: the final forte, a sudden forte, orchestral forte

Loudly, when playing or singing music.

• Play these notes forte.
• The choir sang forte throughout the last verse.
• This passage should begin softly and finish forte.

Similar words: loudly

Opposites: piano, softly

Common phrases: play forte, sing forte, marked forte

Loud, when describing a musical sound or passage.

• The last chord is forte.
• A forte passage follows the quiet opening.
• The orchestra struggled with the sudden forte ending.

Similar words: loud

Opposites: piano, soft

Common phrases: forte passage, forte chord, forte section