When do you say "autumn" instead of "fall"?

Question

is old-fashined word or more poetical? I'm a foreigner.

Answer 1

They are synonymous.

Autumn tends to be more "fancy".

Autumn is more likely to be written. Fall is more likely to be spoken (in America anyway).

And also autumn will be used when the noun fall would cause confusion with the verb "fall." On the other hand, this is a usage that sometimes is deliberately used.

There is a poem that begins:
Spring is sprung.
Fall is fell.
Winter is here, and
It's colder than "usual"
(In fact, this version of that poem is used
on the Mac system as the preference sample
of the "boing" voice.)

Answer 2

I use both. They mean the same thing. I can't think of a time I consciously choose one over the other.

Wait. If I'm talking about the leaves on the trees turning color in the fall, I would say, "The autumn leaves are very pretty." I would not call them the "fall leaves."

I would say either:

"I took an autumn vacation." or "I took a fall vacation."

You can probably use either one in conversation and be correct.

Answer 3

first of all it's got nothing to do with 'fancy' or 'better educated' (or higher earning!)

'autumn' is simply the older word, and 'fall' is newer. the word 'fall' only exists in America (a new country). in all other english-speaking countries, the word is 'autumn'

I guess 'fall' caught on in the US because it is easier to say. damn those lazy Americans!

Answer 4

Autumn is more fancy and precise. It's also not ambiguous. It doesn't have more than one meaning. But most people say the fall when they mean autumn.

Answer 5

fall is what the americans call autumn
so you would say autumn instead of fall if you wernt american

Answer 6

Autumn is British usage
Fall is North American usage

Answer 7

I'm Australian, we always say autumn-never fall.

Answer 8

I use it in conjunction with the word "leaves" because "fall leaves" doesn't sound right.

Answer 9

i just typically use fall, because its quicker to say and a smaller word.

Answer 10

Those who earn over $120,000 a year say "autumn."

The less educated use the term "fall."