How Long Is a Fortnight?

The word comes from the Old English fēowertyne niht, meaning "fourteen nights" — a reminder that people once counted time in nights rather than days.

Quick facts:

• 1 fortnight = 14 days = 2 weeks = 336 hours
• It's still widely used in British and Australian English, especially for pay schedules ("paid fortnightly") and rent.
• It's much less common in American English, where people usually say "two weeks" instead.

So if someone says they'll see you "in a fortnight," they mean in two weeks' time.

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