Difference Between Autumn & Fall

Autumn and fall are names for the same season that comes between summer and winter. The terms can be confusing, as many people don’t understand the difference between the two words. Autumn has its origins in America, while fall is the term used for the same season in Britain. Is this the only difference between autumn and fall, or is there more to it? Let’s find out.

Autumn

The season that begins with the departure of summer and before the onset of winter is referred to as both autumn and fall, and either term is correct. British settlers in America brought the word “fall” with them, while the natives preferred using “autumn” for the period between summer and winter in the US. Some people believe that autumn and fall are just synonyms and represent the same season, just as we refer to 12 PM as noon. It’s merely a coincidence that autumn is an American word, while fall is the name of the same season in England. Autumn comes from the French word “autompne.” The word changed into “autumn” and by the 14th century, Autumn was the widely accepted name for the season between summer and winter in the Americas.

Fall

Looking into the origin of the word “fall” used for the season between summer and winter, we find that it comes from an English expression “fall of the leaf,” which literally meant leaves falling from deciduous trees in a particular season between summer and winter. Before the use of the word fall for the season, it was labeled as “harvest” because of the harvesting that takes place at this time of the year. However, gradually cities grew and took over villages, and city dwellers coined the term “fall,” which reflected the importance of cities in England. With fall becoming a name for the season, harvest was relegated back as a mere agricultural event.

Interestingly, Australians use the term “autumn” and never “fall” for the same season, even though they also have a close relationship with the British. This may be because most Australian trees are not deciduous, and the fall of leaves does not take place as it does in Britain.

Key Takeaways

• Autumn and fall are names for the same season between summer and winter, and one can use either of the two without being incorrect.
• Autumn is purely American, while fall is a British word for the season that reflects the fall of leaves in England.
• Before fall, the season was called “harvest” in England, which later got relegated as a mere agricultural term.