The English Words Fall and Autumn
What did you learn to call the season between summer and winter, fall or autumn? The words fall and autumn refer to the same season, so you’ve probably heard English speakers use both. But these words have different usage and history. They also offer an interesting glimpse into the evolution of the English language. In this post we’ll take a very quick look at the history of the words fall and autumn.
Autumn
Autumn is the older term, derived from the Latin word autumnus. Like many English words, autumn passed through Old French before entering Middle English in the late 14th century. Autumn was of course only used in British English, as there was no such thing as American English at the time. Today, autumn continues to be more popular in British English. Since it’s a Latin word, borrowed into English through French, it evokes the classical language of scholars and poets. English speakers often associate autumn with the harvest season and the transition from the warmth of summer to the chill of winter. The word brings to mind the rich, earthy tones of falling leaves and the gradual decline of sunlight as days grow shorter. The word autumn is always used when it has a figurative sense, as in the autumn years of a person’s life.
Fall
Fall, on the other hand, has a more practical origin. It is an abbreviation of the descriptive and poetic phrase fall of the leaf. Speakers in England during the 16thcentury used this phrase to describe the period when leaves drop from trees. Over time, this shortened form became widely used in the United States. During Britain’s colonial period, English spread around the world, and there was little contact between the motherland and the colonies. So, English began to diverge, and many different Englishes began to develop. Today, fall is the preferred term in American English. Its straightforward nature mirrors the simplicity of other season names like spring, when life “springs forth” from the deep sleep of winter. Many people believe that Americans created the term fall, but this is not at all true. English speakers in England used fall long before the United States existed.
A Third Term: Harvest
Interestingly, before the adoption of these terms, people often referred to the season between summer and winter as harvest. This is of course a reference to the time when crops were gathered. The word harvest still exists in English, but it usually doesn’t refer to the season. Instead, as the English language evolved, fall and autumn took over. Today, North American English speakers use fall in common speech, and autumn is considered a bit more formal or poetic. In Britain and other English speaking regions, speakers prefer autumn, but fall is not unknown.
Both terms reflect the season’s beauty and transition, but their regional preference showcases the rich diversity within the English language.
Learn English with the Language Garage!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit of the history between the words autumn and fall. If you’re interested in ESL/EFL lessons, please check out our English courses. We have private lessons, lessons for you and a friend or colleague, or small groups. Or see our other posts on English grammar, vocabulary, and more.
