Have you ever wondered why English uses both fall and autumn to refer to the same season? The main reason is that these two words come from different periods in the history of the language. Autumn is the older surviving name in English and comes from a Latin word while fall developed from an English expression describing the falling leaves of the season. Today, Oxford identifies autumn as especially British English and fall as the usual North American English term; however, both words are understood in both countries. The History of Autumn The word autumn entered English in the late 1300s. It came from Old French autompne, which came from the Latin autumnus. The deeper origin of the Latin word is uncertain. Before autumn became established, English speakers commonly called this season harvest. In Old English, hærfest referred to the autumn season. It was connected with the time of gathering crops.
Eventually, harvest came to refer more specifically to the gathering of crops and the crops themselves. By the 16th century, autumn had largely replaced harvest as the name of the season.
The History of Fall
The word fall is much more straightforward. It refers to the time when leaves fall from trees.Originally, people used the expression “the fall of the leaf” or “the fall of the year.” Over time, fall became a shorter name for the season. It was being used this way in England by the 16th century.
Why North Americans Say Fall and the British Say Autumn
The difference developed as English evolved in Britain and North America. In Britain, autumn gradually became the usual term, while fall fell out of common use. In North America, English settlers brought the word fall with them. It remained in use and eventually became the more common everyday term in North American English.
Whichever word you use, fall/autumn is a wonderful season that is well spent taking in God’s beautiful creation, enjoying the cooler weather, and savoring the goodness that the earth brings forth. Have a blessed autumn/fall.
