How to pronounce fortnight
Say it like FORT-nyte. Fortnight has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FORT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fortnight. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FORT
- nyte
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fortnight pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FORTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- nyteGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of fortnight
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAWT-nyte.
What does fortnight mean?
- A period of 2 weeks.
Where does fortnight come from?
From Middle English fourtenyght, fourtene nyght, from Old English fēowertīene niht (literally “fourteen nights"; the Anglo-Saxons counted by nights), equivalent to fourteen + night.
Questions about saying fortnight
How do you pronounce fortnight?
Say FORT-nyte. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔrtˌnaɪt/. In British English it is /ˈfɔːtˌnaɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fortnight?
Fortnight has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FORT). Broken into parts: FORT · nyte.
Is fortnight pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈfɔːtˌnaɪt/ (FAWT-nyte).