Why do the British say 'Autumn' but Americans say 'The Fall' ?

Answer 1

americans can't spell autumn.

Answer 2

Fall was once used on both sides of the Atlantic but much like the British change of the rhotic R about the same time as the American Revolution, upper class Britons adopted the term autumn due to its Romance origins.

But back to the usage of 'fall'. Fall was the natural compliment to 'spring', both referring to the life cycle of tree leaves. The Fowler Brothers, British author of the classic reference volume on the English language variances and development, "The King's English", said of the usage of fall by Americans

"...Fall is better on the merits than autumn, in every way: it is short, Saxon (like the other three season names), picturesque; it reveals its derivation to every one who uses it, not to the scholar only, like autumn."

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/09/29/why_does_autumn_have_two_names_how_the_third_season_became_both_autumn_and_fall_.html

Answer 3

Because the americans aren't good with English and "Autumn" is a harder word for them to spell?
The word in British English for the season between Summer and Winter is Autumn, a word taken from our Latin heritage, "Autumnus". In america,with a melting pot of every nationality under the sun there is probably a need to simplify English, and "Fall" reminds one that trees shed their leaves during Autumn.

Answer 4

There are many differences between British English and American English...I work with a British woman, and we discuss this often. I have noticed that Brit's tend to use more formal English, and American slang has become a major factor on American English. Some classic differences...my friend says *car park* we say *parking lot* My friends says *Laue* (i probably spelled that wrong), we say *bathroom*. The word vitamin is pronounced with a long i in the first syllable by us Americans, my British friend uses a short i. And my British friend almost always ends her greeting to me with the word *love*....ex..."Cathy, how are you today love?".

Answer 5

Couple of previous answerers are wrong. British don't use fall, it's always autumn. Nor do we use kilometres, we still use miles, although for most weights, measures and distances we are gradually becoming like Europeans. For example, we measure liquid in litres now rather than gallons.

Answer 6

Americans say call the season when the leaves fall off the trees "Fall". Americans tend to simplify English which sometimes is brilliant and sometimes is just lazy. Fall? Well it's a short and to the point.

Answer 7

It's a difference in the way the two cultures use language. The british also say, 'Bed Clothes' and the Americans say 'Covers' along with many other variations of descriptions for the same object.

I will ring your doorbell and run away!!!

Answer 8

Surely you know that Autumn and Fall or Fall and Autumn are words used both in England and in the USA?

Answer 9

Because the dumb Americans can't spell Autumn

Answer 10

We used to say "Fall" too.

Then a new word "autumn" was used by poets for the season and it became adopted into general use here, but not there