Do any Americans call it autumn rather than fall?

Question

Tis the season so nice they named it twice. The correct English word for the current season is autumn, but as we all know, Americans prefer the easier to spell version, fall.

Now, according to Google, both versions were originally commonly in use both sides of the pond but autumn slipped out of fashion in the states. But do any Americans prefer to call it autumn?

Lliam · Accepted Answer

I use both. But I most often say "fall". It's one syllable and rolls more easily off the tongue. It's same reason why "girl" usually works better than "wo-man".

Autumn is more poetic, though. So it depends on the context. One or the other word works better in different sentences, depending on what words precede or follow.

"I love the fall colors."
"Autumn is almost upon us."

"Autumn and fall are used interchangeably as words for the season that comes between summer and winter. They are each used in American and British English, but fall occurs more often in American English. Autumn is widely considered the more formal name for the season. It is the only season in the English language with two accepted names and the two terms were first recorded within a few hundred years of each other. Before either word emerged in the lexicon, this season between summer and winter was known as harvest, or hærfest in Old English. The word is of Germanic origin and meant “picking,” “plucking,” or “reaping,” from the act of taking in and preserving crops prior to winter. In the 1500s, English speakers began referring to the seasons separating the cold and warm months as either the fall of the leaf or spring of the leaf, or fall and spring for short. Both terms were simple and evocative, but for some reason, only spring caught on in Britain. By the end of the 1600s, autumn, from the French word autompne and the Latin autumnus, had overtaken fall as the standard British term for the third season." - Jeff Woleslagle

I'm guessing that British aristocracy preferred the snootier French term, and the British public came to think of it as more proper.

nolabels · Accepted Answer

I'm on the West side of the pond.
I'll occasionally call the coming season "autumn", but "fall" is the term used more often by me.
Most people that I know seem to share about the same ratio of word usage that I do, as well.
Since it's a season that is soon followed by winter, though, I'm not a fan of the upcoming season, and so endeavor to avoid thinking about its coming.

Alas, summer, I miss you already.

mandyfire98 · Accepted Answer

I've always called it fall. I have a friend named Autumn if that counts.

JSkye · Accepted Answer

I prefer to call it autumn, personally. The word is so much prettier 😅

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

As a french, I will favour autumn always, because we call it automne here, and because "fall" already means something about collapsing in my mind, so I really can't chose fall over autumn when I have the options in front of me lol

MrOracle · Answer

Both terms are still in common use, though autumn tends to be used in more of a formal way while fall is used in more casual situations.

NathanDavis · Answer

I call it  Otoño...

avery58 · Answer

As an American I prefer to call it autumn 🍁

Texaskid1 · Answer

I have always called it "fall."  Only stuffy Brits who raise their pinkies and eat crumpets and wax on about the King and tea time say "autumn" .  PS How many dentists are there in the UK?

ProbablyClueless · Answer

Sure, some of us do. Fall is definitely more common though

Wiredone · Answer

I've always called it fall. It's shorter to say than autumn

JamesRandiDebates · Answer

I typically say "Fall." Which starts next week. "Fall" is also interchangeable with "Autumnal."

LadyBecks · Answer

I use both terms, but I use fall more often than autumn

Nikki1989 · Answer

They should call it what it is, Autumn.

Jerre · Answer

I call it both, but probably use Fall more often

Dargil · Answer

Probably some Latin thing. I'm too lazy research its etymology.

MrGSpotHer · Answer

Well I'm a mushroom I've been dieing I'm currently going into my life mode as it's getting colder finally...

FenixG45 · Answer

I use both. Fall is more casual and simple. Autumn is more formal and polite

AviatorTom · Answer

I use both terms.

LiamJHayden · Answer

I call it autumn.

buzzword · Answer

Both are fine.

Japangirly · Answer

FALL BECAUSE LEAVES FALL

laly520 · Answer

neither but thats for me

eagle1951 · Answer

i call it both

legalboxers · Answer

I call it fall.

Void-Walker · Answer

not an American but i use both

DtMe89 · Answer

I don't

jahaims · Answer

Yeah

Amur8711 · Answer

We use both.

zombiewoof · Answer

Either or

Do any Americans call it autumn rather than fall?

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