answer:English is an ever-evolving language. Just because “fort” used to be the only correct pronunciation of “forte” does not mean it still is. Indeed, at least one dictionary flat out contradicts you: ======================== Pronunciation note In the sense of a person’s strong suit ( He draws well, but sculpture is his real forte ), the older and historical pronunciation of forte is the one-syllable /fɔrt/ Show Spelled[fawrt] Show IPA or /foʊrt/[fohrt], pronounced as the English word fort. The word is derived from the French word fort, meaning “strong.” A two-syllable pronunciation /ˈfɔrteɪ/[fawr-tey] is increasingly heard, especially from younger educated speakers, perhaps owing to confusion with the musical term forte, pronounced in English as /ˈfɔrteɪ/[fawr-tey] and in Italian as /ˈfɔrtɛ/[fawr-te]. Both the one- and two-syllable pronunciations of forte are now considered standard.