forty - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
forty Word Meanings
- The number after thirty-nine.
- A quantity of four times ten.
- In the context of age, it refers to someone who is in their forties.
forty Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
forty Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈfɔːti/
US
/ˈfɔrti/
forty Word Etymology
forty = four + -ty (ten times four). Originating from Old English 'feowertig', rooted in Proto-Germanic and potentially as far back as Proto-Indo-European. Picture four groups of ten, together they create a vibrant festival of numbers.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
First I move my finger along the calendar, tracing days until the moment says forty. I count aloud, adjust my pace, and feel the number settle in as a quiet milestone you set for yourself. The effort tightens and then relaxes as I keep going, letting forty stand as a point of balance rather than a rule.
Real Context
Forty marks the number 40 in decimal counting and serves as a clear reference point in everyday language. It is used when counting objects, describing measurements, or stating age and dates: for example, forty percent, forty dollars, or forty years old. English speakers also use in their forties to describe people aged between 40 and 49. Learners often misspell it as fourty, confuse the pronunciation of the vowel, or assume forty always signals a single fixed age. The word also emphasizes the base-ten system, since forty is four tens. Remember that forty is a precise numerical value rather than a range; use forties for the age band.
Usage Reminders
- Spelling is forty, not fourty.
- Pronounce with a clear 'or' sound: /ˈfɔːrti/.
- Use forty for exact tens and for ages 40-49; use forties for that age group.
- Avoid saying 'fourty' in formal writing.
- Remember the base-ten idea: forty is four tens.
Common Misconceptions
- Forty is often misspelled as fourty.
- Forty is only about age and not about percentages or money.
- The word is pronounced with an error in the vowel.
- Forty always refers to a single fixed age rather than an age range.
- Confusing forties (40s) with forty (the exact number).
Thinking Differences
In English, numbers tend to be treated as precise values, while many languages use ranges or classifiers for ages; learners often flip between exact tens and age bands.
Learning Tips
- Spell it correctly: forty, not fourty.
- Listen to native speech to hear the 'or' sound in forty.
- Practice saying phrases like forty dollars and forty percent aloud.
- Use in their forties to describe people aged 40-49.
- Relate forty to four tens in the base-10 system for memory.
- Create your own sentences using exact tens and ages.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'forty'?
A.The number 40
B.A group of trees
C.A type of food
D.A large number
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'forty' correctly?
A.I have forty fingers.
B.He ate a delicious forty.
C.She planted forty flowers in her garden.
D.The cat climbed a forty.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'forty'?
A.Twenty
B.Thousand
C.Four dozen
D.Hundred
Step 4: Opposite Words
In what real-world scenario would you use the word 'forty'?
A.Talking about the weather
B.Discussing age
C.Ordering food at a restaurant
D.Learning about history
Step 5: Mastery
Create a sentence using the word 'forty'.
A.I have forty siblings.
B.She ran forty miles today.
C.This cake costs forty dollars.
D.The book has forty pages.
Related Listening
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