I tend to use the same rule as in writing - if something doesn't sound right, choose another word or phrase. Usually, I just say "specialty" or something equally bland in speaking.

Years ago, I had a boss who properly pronounced it "fort" and it was always a bit distracting. She also "corrected" my pronunciation of "cache." I use the long "a" and she pronounced it like "cash." In turn, I corrected an advertisement in which she ended a sentence with "with," leading to an unpleasant discussion over colloquialism vs. regional dialect. Apparently, I am one who does not respond well to unwarranted corrections of my speech. Needless to say, I didn't work there long.

Ah, yes, French / Italian wars!

I know so very few people who use the French "forte" pronunciation. When I use it, I tend to really stress the French pronunciation, just to avoid what you're talking about. I used to listen to re-broadcasts of comic radio. I remember an exchange between Hermoine Gingold and Groucho Marx. Hermoine: "I'm afraid that's not my forte." Groucho: "I wish Knox was my Fort!".

The Italian pronuciation "fort-ey" comes about IMHO because more people are exposed to music and musical terms, since they're taking piano lessons or participating in school bands and whatnot. It is clearly the predominant pronunciation and has already surpassed the French.

But, soldier on, Kip! I'll keep using the French in the "strength" category, thinking of you!

Craig in Arcata

I'm of the simile to myself school when I hear the prevalent pronunciation - lol. I admit, sadly, that I avoid its use in speech, not wanting to be controversial over such a minor (in most cases) point.

I'd like to weigh in as a Francophone and professional translator and terminologist. The English "Italian" pronunciation of forte is probably the correct and original one. The use of "fort" as a noun or more properly "point fort" (strong suit) in French to mean "strong point or aspect" only dates back to the early XVIIIth century (Voltaire among others) and its origin is confusing. But we also know that in a card-playing context, the English expression "strong suit", the Italian expression "forte" and the French expression "fort" all precede the French literary use of "fort" as an abstract noun meaning "strong point or aspect". It is therefore probable that continent-touring Englishmen imported the Italian card-playing forte rather than the equivalent French expression, if only because it is easier to pronounce. It cannot be proven whether the Italians borrowed the expression from the French, but as the French borrowed almost all civilized pursuits, except ballet, from the Italians, this is highly doubtful.

The spelling is another clue. Although many atrocities have been committed in borrowing French expressions to incorporate them into English, it is probable that no Englishman in his right mind would have thought that the "forte" spelling was be an acceptable approximation of the French pronunciation of "fort". As in the word repartee, whose English spelling was concocted to reproduce the French sound of "repartie" (rhymes with settee), spelling alterations usually have as a goal to facilitate the pronunciation of the original word. The fact that some half-cultured English Yahoo decided to add an acute accent to the next-to-last letter of the word repartee (repartée) to create an unconscionable abomination that has survived to this day is neither here nor there and deserves another discussion.