The number 40 is spelled forty despite the fact that four contains a u. Even though it is often misspelled fourty, the only widely accepted spelling of the number is forty.

40 (forty) is the natural number following 39 and preceding 41. Though the word is related to four (4), the spelling forty replaced fourty during the 17th century [1][2] and is now the standard form.

Nov 5, 2021 · Although the spelling of forty is and has been fixed for centuries, the variant spelling fourty makes its way into articles and literature from time to time. However, this use of fourty does not make …

Jun 21, 2023 · Forty or fourty? The correct spelling of the number 40 is forty. In modern times, fourty is incorrect, although in the past this was likely the original spelling. Nowadays, forty is the accepted …

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases (Definition of forty from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Definition of forty in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

"Fourty" is a misspelling today, never correct, while "forty" is the only spelling for 40 existing in all dictionary. Simply take "fourty" out of your vocabulary and you will not face this confusion again.

5 days ago · Whether you call it 40 or XL, you're talking about forty: the number between thirty-nine and forty-one.

So, even though the number four is spelled with a “u,” the correct spelling you should use for 40 is, in fact, “forty”—no “u” in sight. “Fourty” isn’t an alternative spelling.

Nov 27, 2025 · The only difference between them is that forty is the correct spelling, while fourty is a misspelling. Fourty is not accepted in any form of English language, be it British or American.