🍁 Autumn in Spanish: Learn about fall in Spain! 🍂

🍂 What is autumn in Spanish?

The Spanish word for autumn is otoño (/oˈto.ɲo/). It usually starts in September and ends in December.

Autumn is a transition season, moving from the hot summers to the cold winters. Some regions, especially in the north, experience rain and cooler temperatures 🌧️❄️, while the south can still have sunny days ☀️, making it ideal for sightseeing.

Example: 'Me encanta el otoño en Madrid, los parques se llenan de hojas de colores 🍁' (I love autumn in Madrid, the parks are full of colorful leaves.)

Extra tip: Spain’s autumn is also harvest season, with grapes, chestnuts, and mushrooms appearing in markets 🍇🌰🍄.

🌞 The four seasons in Spanish 

In Spanish, the four seasons are:

🌸 Primavera – Spring 

☀️ Verano – Summer 

🍂 Otoño – Autumn 

❄️ Invierno – Winter 

But there’s more to know than just the words! Let’s see what each season is like in Spain, along with some useful vocabulary and expressions:

🌸 Primavera (Spring)

Months: March (marzo) – May (mayo)

Weather: Mild, sometimes rainy 🌦️

Activities: Walking in gardens, enjoying flowers, festivals like Las Fallas in Valencia

Expressions:  'Hace buen tiempo' – The weather is nice

         'Florecen las flores' – The flowers bloom

☀️ Verano (Summer)

Months: June (junio) – August (agosto)

Weather: Hot and sunny☀️, perfect for the beach 🏖️

Activities: Swimming, festivals like La Tomatina, outdoor terrace dinners

Expressions: 🥵'Hace mucho calor' – It’s very hot

        😎'A la sombra, por favor'  – In the shade, please 

🍂 Otoño (Autumn)

Months: September (septiembre) – November (noviembre)

Weather: Cooler, leaves changing colour 🍁

Activities: Walking in parks, harvest festivals, drinking hot chocolate ☕

Expressions: 'Hace fresco' – It’s chilly

                                                     'Las hojas caen' – The leaves fall

👀Cultural insight: Each season has its own traditional activities and foods. For autumn, popular dishes include roasted chestnuts, mushrooms, and pumpkin desserts 🎃🍄.

❄️ Invierno (Winter)

Months: December (diciembre) – February (febrero)

Weather: Cold in the north ❄️, mild in the south 🌞

Activities: Skiing in the Pyrenees, Christmas markets 🎄, cozying up at home

Expressions: 'Hace frío' – It’s cold

                                                     'Está nevando'– It’s snowing ⛄

🤓 Tip for learners: Pair each season with typical activities, clothing, and weather expressions. This makes it easier to remember the vocabulary and use it in real conversations.

📅 Autumn months in Spain

Autumn covers September (septiembre), October (octubre), and November (noviembre). In late August, some areas like the south already start to feel autumnal.

⬆️ Northern Spain: cooler temperatures, rainy days, perfect for forest walks and enjoying mountain views ⛰️🌧️.

⬇️ Southern Spain: sunny days remain, good for beach walks and outdoor festivals 🌞🏖️.

Example: En octubre, en Málaga, todavía se puede disfrutar de la playa 🏖️
                               (In October, in Málaga, you can still enjoy the beach.)

😎 Autumn in Spanish slang

Sometimes, people use informal ways to talk about autumn:

🥶 El otoño ya está aquí, ¡qué frío hace! 'Autumn is here, it’s so chilly! '

🍂Me encanta el fresquito de otoño ✨ 'I love the chill of autumn '

Vocabulary:

🌬️Fresquito – a little cool

🍃 Hojas – leaves

🌰 Castañas – chestnuts

🍇 Vendimia – grape harvest 

❄️ Frío – cold

📝 Example sentence: Este otoño me voy a Galicia para el Magosto, ¡me encantan las castañas! 🌰🍁 (This autumn I’m going to Galicia for the Magosto, I love chestnuts!)

🧠 Fun expressions with autumn weather

Spanish people love expressing the cold, cozy, and seasonal feelings:

❄️ Hace un frío que pela  – It’s freezing!

🛋️ Otoño es la estación de la manta y el chocolate caliente 🍫 – Autumn is the season for blankets and hot chocolate.

🍁 Las hojas crujen bajo mis pies  – The leaves crunch under my feet.

🏞️ Autumn activities in Spain

Autumn is full of traditions and activities:

🍇 Harvest season is here – Autumn is the grape harvest (vendimia) in famous wine regions like La Rioja. Many towns have festivals with wine tasting and grape stomping.

🌰 Chestnuts everywhere!  – Galicia, Asturias, and Castilla y León celebrate Magosto, a festival where locals roast chestnuts and enjoy them with family and friends. 

🍂 Walking through parks  – Madrid’s Retiro Park and Barcelona’s Parc de la Ciutadella are beautiful in autumn.

🎃 Autumn cuisine – Seasonal ingredients include mushrooms, chestnuts, grapes, and pumpkin. Many traditional Spanish dishes are only available during autumn.

🌳 Rural experiences – Try workshops on harvest or autumn crafts.

Example sentence: Vamos al Magosto este fin de semana a Galicia. ¡Me encantan las castañas! 🌰🍂   

                                                        (We are going to the Magosto this weekend in Galicia. I love chestnuts!)

🌟 Fun facts about autumn in Spain

🌇 Autumn sunsets are magical  – Cities like Seville, Madrid, and Barcelona have breathtaking sunsets during autumn, with the sky painted in orange, pink, and purple. Perfect for photos! 📸

🍂  Nature changes colours – In northern Spain, forests in Galicia, Asturias, and the Pyrenees turn into a sea of red, yellow, and gold, creating amazing hiking opportunities.

🥧 Autumn markets and fairs  – Local markets offer seasonal products like mushrooms, pumpkin, and apples. Cities like Barcelona and Madrid host autumn food festivals.

🌞 Mild and perfect temperatures ❄️ – While northern Spain can get cool and rainy, the south remains sunny and warm, making it perfect for a late-season beach walk.

🎭 Cultural events – Autumn is rich in concerts, theatre shows, and art exhibitions. Cities often organize outdoor events to celebrate the new season.

📸Photography paradise  – Autumn provides the perfect light and colours for photographers. From historic streets to parks and countryside, the landscapes look magical.

🍁 Autumn vocabulary in Spanish 🍂

Learning autumn vocabulary has never been so fun! Use these words and expressions to talk about the autumn season in Spain.

🍎 Manzana – Apple

🍇 Uvas – Grapes

🌰 Castaña – Chestnut

🎃 Calabaza – Pumpkin

🍄 Seta / Hongo – Mushroom

🍂 Hoja – Leaf

🍁 Árbol de otoño – Autumn tree

🌧️ Lluvia – Rain

🍂 Viento – Wind

🧣 Bufanda – Scarf

🧥 Abrigo – Coat

🔥 Chimenea – Fireplace

🥧 Tarta de manzana – Apple pie

🏕️ Senderismo – Hiking

🧺 Recoger castañas – Chestnut gathering

💡 Tip: You can use these words to describe your city or a walk in the countryside during autumn, and add emojis to make it more visual and fun!

🎵 Autumn music in Spain

Enjoy the season with some Spanish songs perfect for autumn vibes:

'Otoño, octubre' – Manuel Carrasco 🍁🎶 – Feel the warm and reflective autumn atmosphere through this beautiful song.

Listen while walking in a park or enjoying a café to practice your Spanish vocabulary 🎧☕.

🍂 Conclusion

Autumn in Spain is a season full of colours, traditions, and cozy moments. From the changing leaves 🍁 to the seasonal foods 🥧, and even the music that captures the mood of the season 🎶, there are countless ways to enjoy it. Learning the vocabulary and expressions related to autumn will not only improve your Spanish, but also help you experience the season like a local. So grab a warm drink ☕, take a walk through the autumn streets, and practice your Spanish with everything you’ve learned!

🍁 Autumn Quiz – Practice Your Spanish!

Instructions: Choose the correct answer in Spanish for each question.

Let’s chat! 💬

🍁 Which autumn activity do you like the most? 🌞 What’s your favourite season in Spanish? 🍂

👇😍Share your answers in the comments and practice your Spanish! 💬🇪🇸