How to spell forty
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
forty
F-O-R-T-Y
The part to watch: four loses its u in forty. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Four has a u, but forty does not. Fourteen keeps the u, which is why forty catches people out.
Forty is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a suffix to watch. A suffix is an ending such as -ment, -tion or -ed. Sometimes the root word changes when you add it: a letter is dropped, doubled or swapped.
Common mistakes with forty
- Wrong: fourtyRight: forty
A way to remember it
Forty has lost its u: "for-ty, no u".
Forty in syllables
for · ty
Forty has 2 syllables. Say each one as you write it.
In a sentence
There are forty children in the choir.
Forty on the statutory list
Forty is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with forty, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a suffix to watch
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as forty.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell fortieth?
Fortieth changes the y of forty to ie, then adds th. There is still no u.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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