If you have ever paused while writing the number 40 and wondered whether it is “Fourty” or “Forty,” you are not alone. I know how easy it is to second-guess a spelling that looks like it should follow a simple pattern.
You may expect four to become fourty, but English has a surprising rule here. The correct spelling is “forty,” not “fourty.”
In this guide, I’ll show you why forty is correct, where the common spelling fourty comes from, and how you can remember the right spelling with confidence.
Fourty or Forty: (Quick Answer)
Forty is the correct spelling. Fourty is a misspelling.
The number 40 is written as forty, not fourty. Although four contains a u, that letter disappears when the number is written as forty.
| Form | Status | Example |
| forty | Correct | She is forty years old. |
| fourty | Incorrect spelling | She is fourty years old. |
You should use forty in formal writing, schoolwork, business documents, emails, checks or cheques, applications, and everyday English.
Why Is Forty Spelled Without the U?
The spelling of forty comes from the historical development of the English number word. It isn’t simply a combination of four plus -ty.
This is why English has:
- four
- fourteen
- forty
rather than fourty.
The spelling can feel unusual because four contains a u, while forty does not. However, the standard spelling has been established as forty for centuries.
A useful way to remember it is:
Four has a U, but forty does not.
What Does Forty Mean?
Forty is the cardinal number that comes after thirty-nine and before forty-one. It represents the quantity 40.
Examples include:
- I bought forty books.
- There were forty students in the room.
- He ran forty miles.
- The package weighs forty pounds.
- She saved forty dollars.
The word can also appear in compound numbers such as forty-one, forty-two, forty-four, forty-five, forty-eight, and forty-nine.
Fourty or Forty in English
In standard English, the correct form is forty.
You may occasionally see fourty online, in informal writing, or in user-generated content, but its appearance does not make it a standard spelling.
For example:
Correct: I need forty copies.
Incorrect: I need fourty copies.
Correct: The answer is forty.
Incorrect: The answer is fourty.
If you’re writing for school, work, business, publishing, or formal communication, choose forty.
Fourty or Forty-Five
The correct spelling is forty-five.
The same spelling rule applies when forty is combined with another number from one through nine.
| Number | Correct spelling |
| 41 | forty-one |
| 42 | forty-two |
| 43 | forty-three |
| 44 | forty-four |
| 45 | forty-five |
| 46 | forty-six |
| 47 | forty-seven |
| 48 | forty-eight |
| 49 | forty-nine |
Notice that every form begins with forty, never fourty.
Fourty or Forty-One
The correct form is forty-one.
For example:
- He is forty-one years old.
- Forty-one people attended the meeting.
- I counted forty-one pages.
- The team scored forty-one points.
When writing numbers from 41 through 49, keep the spelling forty.
Fourty or Forty-Four
The correct spelling is forty-four.
For example:
- There are forty-four students in the class.
- The book has forty-four chapters.
- Forty-four people signed the form.
The spelling fourty-four is incorrect.
Fourty or Forty-Nine
The correct form is forty-nine.
For example:
- She received forty-nine votes.
- The box contains forty-nine items.
- He finished the race in forty-nine minutes.
The first part remains forty, even though the number is written as a compound word.
Fourty or Forty-Eight
The correct spelling is forty-eight.
For example:
- The building has forty-eight rooms.
- Forty-eight people attended the event.
- I counted forty-eight chairs.
Again, fourty-eight is a misspelling.
Fourty or Forty-Two
The correct form is forty-two.
Examples:
- He scored forty-two points.
- There were forty-two questions on the test.
- The answer is forty-two.
When writing 42 in words, use forty-two.
Fourty or Forty Dollars
When writing an amount of money, use forty dollars.
Examples:
- The shirt costs forty dollars.
- I paid forty dollars for the ticket.
- She gave me forty dollars.
- The fee is forty dollars.
On a financial document, the amount should also be spelled forty dollars, not fourty dollars.
If you are writing $40, the numerical form is simply $40. When the amount needs to be written in words, use forty dollars.
Fourty or Forty in Cheque Writing
If you are writing a cheque, the correct spelling is forty.
For example:
$40.00 — Forty dollars only
Do not write:
$40.00 — Fourty dollars only
The same spelling applies regardless of whether the amount appears in a cheque, invoice, receipt, contract, or other financial document.
In British English, cheque is the standard spelling for the financial document. In American English, check is generally used for this meaning.
Fourty or Forty on a Check
If you are writing an amount on a check, spell 40 as forty.
For example:
Forty dollars and 00/100
The word fourty should not be used for the written amount.
This is especially important on financial documents because spelling the number correctly helps prevent confusion.
How Do You Pronounce Forty?
Forty is generally pronounced like:
FOR-tee
IPA:
/ˈfɔːr.ti/ in many British pronunciations
/ˈfɔːr.t̬i/ in many American pronunciations
It has two syllables:
FOR + ty
The pronunciation does not contain an extra syllable for the missing u. The word is simply pronounced forty.
A common mistake is to assume that because the word begins with four, it should be pronounced exactly like four followed by -ty. The standard word is simply forty.
Is Fourty a Word?
Fourty is not the standard spelling of the number 40 in modern English.
It is generally treated as a misspelling of forty.
If you encounter fourty in a message, post, document, or other piece of writing, the intended number is almost certainly 40. In edited or formal English, replace it with forty.
Is Fourty or Forty Correct?
Forty is correct. Fourty is incorrect as the standard spelling of 40.
This is not a British English or American English spelling difference. Standard English uses forty in both major varieties.
So you should write:
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- forty-five
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- forty thousand
Not:
- fourty
- fourty-one
- fourty-two
- fourty-four
- fourty-five
- fourty-eight
- fourty-nine
- fourty thousand
Fourty or Forty Thousand
The correct form is forty thousand.
For example:
- The company made forty thousand dollars.
- More than forty thousand people attended.
- The population increased by forty thousand.
- He saved forty thousand dollars.
The spelling remains forty when it is followed by thousand.
Forty in British or American English
Forty is the standard spelling in both British English or American English.
Unlike some English words that have different regional spellings, such as colour or color, forty does not change spelling according to region.
| English variety | Correct spelling |
| British English | forty |
| American English | forty |
| Canadian English | forty |
| Australian English | forty |
So if you’re writing for readers in the UK, US, Canada, or Australia, forty is the safe standard spelling.
Common Mistakes With Forty
The most common mistake is adding the u from four.
Incorrect: Fourty
The spelling fourty is a common misspelling.
Correct: Forty
Use forty whenever you mean the number 40.
Incorrect: Fourty-five
Correct: Forty-five
Incorrect: Fourty-eight
Correct: Forty-eight
Incorrect: Fourty-nine
Correct: Forty-nine
Incorrect: Fourty thousand
Correct: Forty thousand
The key is to remember that forty is its own established spelling.
How to Remember the Spelling of Forty
A simple memory trick is:
Four has a U. Forty doesn’t.
You can also remember the sequence:
four → fourteen → forty
The spelling changes in forty, so don’t automatically add the u from four.
Another useful reminder is:
40 = forty, never fourty.
Once you memorize this small spelling exception, numbers such as forty-one or forty-eight become much easier to write correctly.
Examples With Forty
Here are some natural examples using the correct spelling:
- I have forty minutes before the meeting.
- She bought forty notebooks.
- The building is forty years old.
- We need forty chairs.
- He saved forty dollars.
- There were forty people at the event.
- The journey takes forty minutes.
- She received forty emails.
- The class has forty students.
- They ordered forty pizzas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fourty or forty the correct spelling?
Forty is the correct spelling for the number 40. Fourty is a common misspelling and should be avoided in standard English.
Why is forty not spelled fourty?
English number words have developed through historical spelling changes. Although four contains a u, the established spelling of 40 is forty.
Is fourty a real English word?
Fourty can be found in informal writing or as a spelling error, but it is not the standard spelling of the number 40. Use forty in standard English.
How do you spell 40 in words?
The number 40 is spelled forty.
How do you spell 45 in English?
45 is spelled forty-five.
How do you spell 48 in English?
48 is spelled forty-eight.
How do you spell 49 in English?
49 is spelled forty-nine.
How do you spell 40 dollars?
Write forty dollars when spelling out the amount.
Is forty spelled differently in British English?
No. Forty is the standard spelling in British English or American English.
How do you write 40 on a cheque or check?
Write the amount as forty dollars when the amount is $40. The spelling fourty should not be used.
Conclusion
The correct spelling is forty, not fourty. Although the word comes historically from the same number family as four, standard modern English uses forty without the u.
The same spelling applies to compound numbers such as forty-one, forty-two, forty-four, forty-five, forty-eight, and forty-nine. It also remains forty when you’re writing amounts such as forty dollars or larger numbers such as forty thousand.
I am James Walker, an English language specialist with extensive experience in grammar, editing, and academic writing. I enjoy helping students, bloggers, and professionals strengthen their writing by explaining grammar concepts in a clear and engaging way. My focus is on providing accurate, practical, and easy-to-follow guidance that helps learners communicate more effectively in everyday and professional situations.
Books: Perfect English Grammar Handbook and Advanced Writing Techniques
Daniel Carter
Olivia Brown