numeral
The number 40.
There are forty students in the class.
My father is forty years old.
Common phrases & grammar
forty years old · forty dollars · forty percent · forty minutes
forty + plural noun
subject + be + forty years old
American English
How to pronounce forty
numeral · nounA1Very common word
FORdee
/ˈfɔɹ.ɾi/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
The number 40.
What to listen for
In American English, the middle t in “forty” is usually a very quick tap: /ˈfɔɹ.ɾi/. It sounds a bit like a quick d.
Meanings & examples
noun
The years in a person's life from age 40 to age 49.
She started college in her forties.
He is in his late forties.
Common phrases & grammar
early forties · late forties
in + my/your/his/her/their + forties
subject + be + in + possessive word + forties
nounless common
The decade from 1940 to 1949, or a similar decade in another century.
Jazz was popular in the forties.
The forties brought many changes in technology.
Common phrases & grammar
the + forties
in + the + forties
Useful expressions
aged 40
My sister is forty years old.
between age 40 and age 49
She changed careers in her forties.
the years from 1940 to 1949
The forties were a difficult time.
Related words & forms
Spell the number forty, not fourty. Before -s, it changes to forties; the ordinal is fortieth.