Forty is the correct and standard form, representing the numerical value 40. Fourty is the incorrect term.

The difference between forty and fourty lies in their spelling and pronunciation. Fourty has an extra letter u.

What does forty mean?

Forty is the written version of "40." It is used widely in everyday language.

Example sentences

  • I am forty years old.
  • There are forty students in the class.

What does fourty mean?

Fourty is an incorrect spelling and not a recognized word in the English language. People often make spelling errors, and fourty is a common one, but it should be corrected to forty for accuracy and clarity.

So, it's important to remember that "forty" is the proper way to spell and represent the number 40, while "fourty" is an incorrect variant.

Why is fourty so common?

Why do people commonly confuse forty for fourty? Well, you can see that both are very similar in spelling, but it is important to remember that fourty is the incorrect spelling.

Other correct versions

  • fourth
  • fortieth

More example sentences

  1. I celebrated my fortieth birthday with a big party.
  2. There are exactly forty students in our math class.
  3. The marathon route stretches for forty kilometers.
  4. It took him nearly forty minutes to complete the puzzle.
  5. In forty days, spring will officially arrive.
  6. She bought a beautiful necklace for forty dollars.
  7. The temperature dropped to a frigid forty degrees Fahrenheit last night.
  8. The library has a collection of over forty thousand books.
  9. After forty years of marriage, they still held hands like young lovers.
  10. The museum features a stunning display of forty different sculptures.

Common idioms/phrases

  • Life begins at forty: This phrase suggests that life becomes more enjoyable or meaningful as one gets older, particularly when reaching the age of forty.
  • Forty winks: This is a playful way to refer to a short nap or a quick sleep, typically lasting a few minutes.
  • The big four-oh: This phrase is often used humorously to refer to someone turning forty years old. It's a colloquial way of talking about this milestone birthday.
  • Forty acres and a mule: This phrase has historical significance and refers to the promise of land and a mule to formerly enslaved African Americans after the Civil War. It's often used to discuss reparations or unfulfilled promises.
  • Over the hill: While this phrase doesn't include the number forty, it's often associated with reaching middle age or a point in life where one is considered past their prime.

Remember that the spelling "fourty" is incorrect; the correct spelling is "forty." Using the correct spelling will ensure that your communication is accurate.


Discover more about the AI English proofreader, Engram!

Free ChatGPT-Powered Grammar Checker | Engram
Use Engram’s free grammar checker, powered by ChatGPT, to fix your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word usage errors

Reference

Is it ‘Forty’? Or ‘Fourty’?
This is usage