As the leaves turn golden and the air gets a little crisper, we welcome the arrival of autumn. The most common way to say this in French is, of course, l'automne.

But just as English speakers might say 'fall', the French language has several other beautiful and descriptive ways to talk about this cozy season.

Ready to add some seasonal color to your French vocabulary? Let's explore nine wonderful ways to say 'autumn'!

The standard 'autumn' or 'fall' – l'automne

The standard and most common way to say both 'autumn' and 'fall' in French is l'automne.

L'automne is a masculine noun. A key pronunciation point is that the final 'mn' is pronounced simply as 'n', making the word sound like 'loh-tonn'.

Because automne begins with a vowel, the definite article le contracts to l'. So, 'the autumn' is l'automne. When you need to say 'an autumn', you use the masculine indefinite article: un automne.

A crucial grammar rule for all seasons in French (except spring) is the use of the preposition en to mean 'in'. Therefore, 'in the autumn' or 'in the fall' is always en automne. You do not use an article in this case.

The adjective derived from automne is automnal (masculine) or automnale (feminine), which means 'autumnal'. For example, you might speak of 'une lumière automnale' (an autumnal light).

L'automne is one of les quatre saisons (the four seasons), which also include le printemps (spring), l'été (summer), and l'hiver (winter). Common activities associated with this season include la récolte (the harvest) and seeing les feuilles mortes (the dead leaves).

💡 * J'adore les couleurs de l'automne.

• En automne, les jours deviennent plus courts.
• C'était un automne particulièrement pluvieux cette année.
• Nous avons profité d'une belle journée automnale pour nous promener.
• Les vendanges ont lieu en automne.

The poetic 'season of dead leaves' – la saison des feuilles mortes

While the common French word for “autumn” or “fall” is simply l'automne, there exists a much more poetic and evocative alternative: la saison des feuilles mortes.

Translated literally, the phrase means “the season of dead leaves.” It breaks down as: la saison (the season) + des (of the) + feuilles (leaves) + mortes (dead). This direct translation immediately paints a vivid picture of the season.

This phrase is deeply rooted in French culture, particularly in poetry and music. Its most famous association is with the iconic 1945 poem by Jacques Prévert, "Les Feuilles mortes," which was later set to music and became a world-famous song. The phrase carries a sense of melancholy, nostalgia, and the transient beauty of life.

It's crucial to understand that you wouldn't typically use la saison des feuilles mortes in casual, everyday conversation. If you're just talking about the weather or making plans, you would use l'automne. For example, you’d say, “Le temps en automne est très agréable” (The weather in autumn is very pleasant). La saison des feuilles mortes is reserved for more descriptive, literary, or romantic contexts.

Using this phrase is less about stating a fact and more about capturing a mood. It evokes images of walking through parks carpeted in red and gold leaves, the crisp autumn air, and a feeling of reflective contemplation. It’s a perfect example of how French can be an incredibly descriptive and artistic language.

💡 * J'adore les couleurs chaudes de la saison des feuilles mortes.

• Le poème "Les Feuilles mortes" de Jacques Prévert est un classique de la poésie française.
• C'est une expression poétique ; au quotidien, on dit simplement « c'est l'automne ».
• La saison des feuilles mortes m'inspire toujours un sentiment de douce nostalgie.

The 'late season' or 'Indian summer' – l'arrière-saison

The term l'arrière-saison literally translates to 'the back season' or 'late season'. It beautifully captures the concept of an 'Indian summer'—a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn after the first cool spells.

In France, l'arrière-saison refers to the period from late September to early November when summer-like weather makes a pleasant return. It's a cherished time for enjoying outdoor activities, especially in tourist regions like the south of France, as the crowds have thinned but the weather remains beautiful.

Let's break down the word to make it easier to remember. Arrière means 'back' or 'behind', and saison means 'season'. So, it's literally the 'season that comes behind' the main summer, a perfect description for this late burst of warmth.

Grammatically, l'arrière-saison is a feminine noun (because saison is feminine). You will often see it used with prepositions like pendant (during) or en to describe when something happens. For example: voyager pendant l'arrière-saison.

You might also hear the term l'été indien, which is a direct translation of 'Indian summer' and was popularized in France by a famous song. While both are understood, l'arrière-saison is a more traditionally French and evocative term for this period.

💡 * Nous avons profité de l'arrière-saison pour faire une dernière randonnée en montagne.

• Les couleurs de l'automne sont magnifiques pendant l'arrière-saison.
• C'est l'arrière-saison, le temps est encore doux et ensoleillé.
• Beaucoup de touristes préfèrent la Corse pendant l'arrière-saison pour éviter la foule.

The 'harvest season' – la saison des récoltes

The phrase la saison des récoltes is the direct and most common way to say 'the harvest season' in French. It literally translates to 'the season of the harvests.'

Let's look at the components: La saison means 'the season,' and des récoltes means 'of the harvests.' The word récolte (feminine noun) means 'harvest' or 'crop.' The plural form is often used to refer to the general period of gathering various crops.

This term is used in agricultural contexts, weather reports, and general conversations about autumn. It evokes images of abundance and the culmination of a year's farming efforts.

While la saison des récoltes is general, French also has specific terms for key harvests. The most famous is les vendanges, which refers exclusively to the grape harvest for wine production.

💡 * En France, l'automne est la saison des récoltes.

• La saison des récoltes de blé commence en été.
• C'est beaucoup de travail pendant la saison des récoltes.
• Les agriculteurs célèbrent la fin de la saison des récoltes.

1. The 'back-to-school' season – la rentrée

La rentrée is a cornerstone of French culture, literally meaning 'the return.' While its most direct translation relates to the 'back-to-school' period, its significance is much broader, marking the end of the summer holidays (les grandes vacances) and a nationwide return to routine.

This term isn't just for students. It applies to almost every aspect of French life. You'll hear about la rentrée politique (the return of parliament), la rentrée littéraire (the season for new book releases), and la rentrée sociale (the resumption of work and social activities).

Occurring from late August through early September, la rentrée is more than a date; it's a collective mood. It's a time of new beginnings, resolutions (much like New Year's), and a shift from the relaxed pace of summer to the structured rhythm of autumn.

As a feminine noun (une rentrée), it's often used with prepositions. For example, you would wish someone Bonne rentrée ! (Have a good return!) or talk about what you need pour la rentrée (for the start of the season).

💡 * C'est la rentrée, il faut reprendre les bonnes habitudes. (It's the back-to-school season, we have to get back into good habits.)

• Je souhaite une excellente rentrée à tous les enfants. (I wish an excellent back-to-school to all the children.)
• La rentrée littéraire de septembre est toujours très attendue. (The literary season in September is always eagerly awaited.)
• Comment s'est passée ta rentrée au travail ? (How was your return to work?)

The specific 'Indian summer' – l'été indien

When you experience an unseasonably warm, sunny spell in the middle of autumn, the French have a specific and poetic term for it: l'été indien.

Literally translating to 'the Indian summer', l'été indien refers to a period of mild, summer-like weather that occurs in autumn (usually October or November) after the first cold spells or frosts. It's a cherished phenomenon that feels like a final, beautiful farewell to summer before winter truly sets in.

The expression was popularized and cemented in French culture by Joe Dassin's iconic 1975 song, "L'Été indien". Because of this song, the phrase carries a nostalgic, romantic, and slightly melancholic connotation, evoking memories of a past summer or a fleeting moment of happiness.

It's important to note that l'été indien isn't used for just any warm day in autumn. It specifically describes a distinct period of warmth that interrupts the cold, making it feel like a temporary return of summer. You wouldn't use it for a typical sunny day in early September, for instance.

💡 * On a un magnifique été indien cette année, il faut en profiter.

• J'adore les couleurs des feuilles pendant l'été indien.
• Cette chaleur en plein mois d'octobre, c'est le fameux été indien.
• La chanson de Joe Dassin me fait toujours penser aux étés indiens de mon enfance.

The 'grape harvest season' – le temps des vendanges

The phrase le temps des vendanges translates to “the grape harvest season.” It refers to the specific time of year, typically in late summer or early autumn, when grapes are picked for winemaking.

Let's break down the expression: le temps means “the time” or “the season,” and des vendanges means “of the grape harvests.” The word vendanges is almost always used in its plural form in this context to refer to the event as a whole.

In France, le temps des vendanges is more than just an agricultural activity; it's a significant cultural event, especially in wine-producing regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. It signifies a period of hard work, community gathering, and celebration.

💡 * En septembre, c'est le temps des vendanges dans le Beaujolais. (In September, it's the grape harvest season in Beaujolais.)

• Pendant le temps des vendanges, les villages viticoles sont très animés. (During the grape harvest season, the wine-growing villages are very lively.)
• Mon grand-père me raconte toujours des histoires sur le temps des vendanges de sa jeunesse. (My grandfather always tells me stories about the grape harvest season of his youth.)

The 'season of warm colors' – la saison des couleurs chaudes

While l'automne is the standard French word for autumn or fall, la saison des couleurs chaudes is a more poetic and descriptive alternative. It literally translates to 'the season of warm colors,' perfectly capturing the visual essence of this time of year.

This phrase is composed of simple elements: la saison (the season), des couleurs (of the colors), and chaudes (warm). Together, they create a vivid image of autumn's fiery palette of reds, oranges, and yellows.

You will typically find la saison des couleurs chaudes in more literary, artistic, or descriptive contexts rather than in everyday, functional conversation. It’s used specifically to evoke the cozy, vibrant, and picturesque atmosphere of the season.

💡 * J'adore me promener en forêt durant la saison des couleurs chaudes. (I love walking in the forest during the season of warm colors.)

• Pour les photographes, la saison des couleurs chaudes offre une lumière magnifique. (For photographers, the season of warm colors offers magnificent light.)
• La saison des couleurs chaudes est ma préférée pour visiter le Canada. (The season of warm colors is my favorite for visiting Canada.)

1. Expressing 'The Beginning of the Cold Season'

The most literal translation for 'the beginning of the cold season' in French is le début de la saison froide. This phrase is grammatically correct and directly communicates the intended meaning. It breaks down as follows:

• le début: the beginning
• de la saison: of the season
• froide: cold

While le début de la saison froide is perfectly understandable, it's more common for native speakers to refer to the specific season. For example, they are more likely to say le début de l'automne (the beginning of autumn) or l'arrivée de l'hiver (the arrival of winter) to mark this transition.

In everyday conversation, French speakers often describe the change in temperature itself. You will frequently hear expressions like il commence à faire froid (it's starting to get cold) or the more subtle le temps se rafraîchit (the weather is cooling down).

A very common and natural way to talk about the onset of cold weather is to use the phrase les premières fraîcheurs, which literally means 'the first chills' or 'the first cool spells.' This expression beautifully captures the initial dip in temperature that signals the end of summer warmth.

💡 * On sent l'arrivée de l'hiver avec le début de la saison froide.

• Le temps se rafraîchit, c'est le début de l'automne.
• J'ai ressorti mon manteau avec les premières fraîcheurs du matin.
• Il commence à faire froid le soir, n'est-ce pas ?
• Le début de la saison froide est ma période préférée pour boire du chocolat chaud.

Are there other ways to say 'autumn' in French?

Are there other ways to say “autumn” in French?

Our guide has covered the most common and essential term: automne. But French, a language rich in poetry and regional diversity, offers other beautiful and nuanced ways to describe this season.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for “expressions sur l'automne” or “poésie sur l'automne” to find more literary and descriptive terms.

When you discover a new word for autumn, pay attention to its context. Some terms might be old-fashioned (désuet), highly poetic, or specific to a certain region. Always check how it's used before trying it yourself.

The best way to learn is through immersion. Listen to classic French songs about the season, like “Les feuilles mortes,” read poems by Verlaine, or watch French films set in the fall. You'll hear the language of autumn in its natural element.

If you want to learn related vocabulary, such as words for harvest, crisp air, or fall colors, online dictionaries like Larousse or Le Robert are excellent resources. Look up automne to find a web of related terms and example sentences.

I hope this guide has been helpful for you. To finish, here is a perfect quote from the French-Algerian author Albert Camus that captures the beauty of the season: “L'automne est un deuxième printemps où chaque feuille est une fleur.” (Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.)