Forty is the correct spelling. Fourty is a common misspelling. The word keeps the f-o-r sound from four, but it does not keep the letter u. Merriam-Webster notes that forty is the only widely accepted spelling for the number 40.Source-1✅
The Direct Answer
Use forty in sentences like “forty minutes,” “forty dollars,” “forty people,” and “forty years.” Do not write fourty in standard English.
Table of Contents
Which Spelling Is Correct?
The correct word is forty. It means the number 40. The spelling fourty looks natural because the number four has a u, but English drops that letter in forty.
| Spelling | Status | Use It? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| forty | ✓ Correct | Yes | She waited forty minutes. |
| fourty | ✕ Wrong | No | She waited fourty minutes. |
In formal writing, schoolwork, emails, forms, and published text, forty is the safe form. Merriam-Webster defines forty as “a number equal to four times 10,” and it also lists related forms such as forties, fortieth, and fortyish.Source-2✅
Correct Examples With Forty
- The meeting starts in forty minutes.
- There are forty seats in the room.
- He turned forty last spring.
- The price is forty dollars.
- The road sign showed a forty mile-per-hour limit.
Why The Mistake Happens
The mistake happens because four and fourteen both contain the letter u. Many writers expect the same pattern in fourty. English does not follow that pattern here.
Simple memory note: four has u, fourteen has u, but forty has no u.
The spelling may feel uneven, but it is normal standard English. Fourty is not a British spelling, not an American spelling, and not a formal variant. It is simply a misspelling of forty.
Forty and Fourteen Are Different
Fourteen keeps the u because it is built from four plus teen. Forty is the tens word for 40, and its accepted spelling developed without the u.
| Number | Correct Word | Letter U? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | four | Yes | The base number keeps u. |
| 14 | fourteen | Yes | The teen form keeps u. |
| 40 | forty | No | The tens form drops u. |
| 40th | fortieth | No | The ordinal form follows forty. |
Pronunciation and The Quiet Letter Pattern
Forty is usually pronounced like FOR-tee. Cambridge Dictionary gives the word as the number 40 and provides British and American pronunciation audio for it.Source-3✅
The spelling has for at the start, not four. That is why the word looks shorter than many people expect. The sound still connects clearly to the number 4, so the spelling mistake is easy to understand.
Pronunciation Notes
- forty has two syllables: for + ty.
- The first part sounds close to for, not fully like four in careful speech.
- The spelling fourty may match the word four, but it is not the accepted form.
Word Origin and Word Parts
The word forty comes from older English forms linked to four and a tens ending. Etymonline traces forty to Old English forms meaning a group of 40, from a word for four plus a form related to a group of ten.Source-4✅
That history explains why the word is connected to four, even though the modern spelling is forty. English spelling often keeps traces of older forms, but the form used today is clear: forty.
Word Parts in Simple Form
| Word | Part | Meaning | Spelling Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| four | Base number | 4 | Has u. |
| forty | Tens number | 40 | No u. |
| fortieth | Ordinal form | 40th | No u. |
| forties | Plural form | 40–49 range | No u. |
Word Family and Related Forms
The word family follows the same spelling pattern. Once the base form becomes forty, the related forms also drop the u.
- forty means the number 40.
- forties can mean the numbers, years, ages, or temperatures from 40 to 49.
- fortieth means 40th.
- forty-first, forty-two, and similar compound numbers also use forty.
Examples With Related Forms
- She finished in fortieth place.
- The temperature stayed in the forties.
- My uncle is in his forties.
- The classroom has forty-two desks.
- The book has forty-eight short chapters.
Common Misspellings Table
Most wrong forms come from trying to keep four inside the word. The accepted spelling removes the u and uses forty.
| Form | Correct or Wrong | Why | Better Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| forty | ✓ Correct | Standard spelling for 40 | forty |
| fourty | ✕ Wrong | Keeps the u from four | forty |
| fourtieth | ✕ Wrong | Wrong ordinal pattern | fortieth |
| fourties | ✕ Wrong | Wrong plural pattern | forties |
| forty one | Usually incomplete | Compound numbers from 21 to 99 are commonly hyphenated when written as words | forty-one |
Forty in Compound Numbers
When forty joins another number, it stays the same. The spelling does not change to fourty.
Correct
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-nine
Wrong
- fourty-one
- fourty-two
- fourty-three
- fourty-nine
FAQ
Common Questions About Forty and Fourty
Is It Forty or Fourty?
The correct spelling is forty. Fourty is a misspelling.
Why Is There No U in Forty?
English keeps the u in four and fourteen, but the standard spelling of 40 is forty. The spelling may look uneven, but it is the accepted form.
Is Fourty Correct in British English?
No. Fourty is not the standard spelling in British English or American English. Use forty.
What Is The Correct Spelling of 40th?
The correct spelling is fortieth. Do not write fourtieth.
Do You Write Forty-One With a Hyphen?
Yes, in standard written English, compound numbers from 21 to 99 are commonly written with a hyphen when spelled out: forty-one, forty-two, and forty-three.