When someone says “that's my forte” (often pronounced “fort” or “for-tay”), they mean it's something they're especially good at. Your forte is your strong point or special talent. A student whose forte is math might breeze through algebra while finding history more challenging. A basketball player whose forte is defense might not score many points but excels at stopping opponents.

When you identify something as your forte, you're being honest about your strengths. A chef might say “pastries are my forte” because she makes incredible desserts, while another chef's forte might be grilling steaks perfectly.

Everyone has different fortes. Maybe your forte is making people laugh, explaining complicated ideas, or staying calm when others panic. Understanding your forte helps you know when to step up and contribute. It also helps you recognize when to let someone else take the lead because a task falls within their forte.

The word can also describe what someone does best. You might say “comedy isn't that director's forte” after watching a disappointing funny movie from someone who usually makes great action films.