Fate is destiny, or the outcome that awaits someone. A fete is a fair or festival, or, as a verb, to celebrate someone. They sound the same, so remember that a fete is a fun event, and both fete and feast share the same French roots.
The core difference
Fate is the power thought to control events, or the outcome awaiting someone, while a fete is a public festival or, as a verb, a way of honouring someone.
- fate — destiny or eventual outcome: The jury would decide the fate of the accused.
- fete — a fair or festival, or to celebrate someone: The village fete had a cake stand and a tombola.
- feted — honoured with a special occasion: The retiring coach was feted at a dinner in his name.
How to tell them apart
Both words are pronounced alike, so only the context tells you which is meant. If the sentence is about destiny, luck or what will happen to someone, use fate. If it is about a summer fair, a charity day or a party in someone's honour, use fete.
Fete is borrowed from French fête, meaning feast or celebration, which links it to feast and fiesta. Fate comes from a Latin word meaning that which has been spoken. The mix-up is most common in the verb forms: fated means destined, while feted means celebrated.
