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RSS“Forte” or “Fortë,” “Cache” or “Cachet”?
How many times have you heard people say something is not their “forte” and pronounce forte as /for tay/?
This mispronunciation has become so wide-spread that it’s on its way to establishing itself as an acceptable variation. The error has arisen from the fact that there are two “fortes” in English, each with a different pronunciation.
forte /for tay/
Adverb (or adjective) meaning “strong” or “loud.” This word comes into English from Italian and is used chiefly in a musical context. Ex. Play this measure forte /for-tay/.
forte /fort/
Noun meaning “strong point,” “strength.” This word comes into English from French. Ex. Housekeeping is not my forte /fort/.
INTERESTING TRIVIA: The word forte /fort/ can refer to the strongest part of a sword blade, i.e., the part nearest the hilt. The weakest part of the blade, the part between the tip and the middle, is called the foible. Just as a forte is a person’s strong point, a foible is a (minor) weakness. Ex. His chief foible is buying every new electronic gadget as soon as it comes out.
Two other French words that give some speakers trouble are cache and cachet.
Not long ago I heard an NPR announcer speak of a “cache of weapons.” She pronounced cache as /ka shay/.
The word cache is pronounced /kash/. A cache is a hidden hoard. It’s probably from the French verb cacher, “to hide.” Early explorers would hide food and supplies for the return journey. The hidden supplies were called a cache. Among the many place names left by French explorers in the state of Arkansas is that of the Cache River.
cachet /ka shay/ is from the same French verb. As a noun cachet is literally a stamp or a seal. Figuratively it has come to mean “approval.” Ex. The plans for the new sewer system carry the Mayor’s cachet. Cachet can also mean “mark of distinction.” Ex. Driving a Rolls bestows a certain cachet.
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I am totally guilt of this with forte – I had no idea! Thanks!
I learned something valuable today. And I always thought that language was my forte, although I pronounce it incorrectly.
Thanks!
I wonder if a future post, you could clarify the proper pronounciation of another French word that is increasingly used in English: Niche.
As a francophone, I do not understand why native English speakers pronounce this word as “nitch”. There is no T!!! (this pronunciation makes it sound like Nietzsche.
But the desktop dictionary on my Mac (Oxford American) says:
forte 1 |ˌfɔːteɪ| |ˌfɔːti| |fɔːt|
noun
1 [in sing. ] a thing at which someone excels : small talk was not his forte.
2 Fencing the stronger part of a sword blade, from the hilt to the middle.
So – take your pick!
And what about this one – I have never known before now:
cadre |ˌkɑːdə| |ˌkɑːdr(ə)| |ˌkadri|
noun
a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession : a small cadre of scientists.
• |ˌkeɪdə| a group of activists in a communist or other revolutionary organization.
• a member of such a group.
How about that!
Geoff and Pierre,
My response to your comments has gone on so long that I’ve decided to submit it as a post called Battle of the Dictionaries.
The original post is generally correct as far as pronunciation of the Italian forte [for tay] and French [fort]. However thise words are now English and we will pronounce them with our own distict sensitivities. In my dialect of ENGLISH, a [fort] is a stronhold and a [for tay] is a strength, while [for tay] is also loud when talking music.
Interestingly, the author does not suggest that we pronounce “foible” as [fwa blə]. We use the English version of a once French word [foy bul]
Had no idea about the “forte” pronunciation. Thanks for letting us know!
When American speakers pronounce “foible,” they use common rules of English. That makes sense to me. When they put an extra syllable on “forte” they are violating the rules of English and French in a mistaken attempt to give the word a foreign flavor. I consider that a lot less sensible.
I am reminded of an awful sign at a local mall declaring that the place is a “shopping centre” with an accent over the last “e.” The practice says more about putting on airs by trying (in a mangled way) to sound European than it does about honoring one’s native language.