Pumpkin vs. Squash — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 22, 2023

Pumpkin and squash are both gourds, but they differ in appearance, culinary uses, and species classification. While pumpkins are generally round with orange skin and commonly used in pies, squash can be of various shapes, colors, and are more versatile in

Difference Between Pumpkin and Squash

Table of Contents

➝ Key Differences ➝ Comparison Chart ➝ Definitions ➝ FAQs

ADVERTISEMENT

Key Differences

Pumpkins are most commonly associated with fall activities such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, often carved into jack-o'-lanterns or made into pumpkin pies. Squash is often used in a broader range of culinary applications, from soups and stews to sautés and casseroles, and isn't associated with specific holidays.

Sep 22, 2023

Pumpkin seeds, often called pepitas, are edible and frequently roasted as a snack. Squash seeds are also edible, although they are less commonly consumed than pumpkin seeds. Both types of seeds contain nutritional benefits such as vitamins and minerals.

Sep 22, 2023

Pumpkin and squash are both members of the gourd family but have their distinct characteristics and uses. Pumpkins are mostly spherical, with smooth, slightly ribbed skin and are deep yellow to orange in color. Squash can be more variable in shape, ranging from elongated to pear-shaped, and they can be green, yellow, or even multicolored.

Sep 22, 2023

In botanical terms, pumpkins belong to the genus "Cucurbita," specifically under the species "Cucurbita pepo." Squash can also belong to "Cucurbita," but there are various species like "Cucurbita maxima" and "Cucurbita moschata" that produce what we call squash.

Sep 22, 2023

While both pumpkins and squash can be used in cooking, pumpkins are more commonly used for sweet dishes like pies and bread. Squash is often cooked in savory dishes but can also be used in some desserts. The flesh of both is rich in nutrients like vitamins A and C.

Sep 22, 2023

Comparison Chart

Shape

Generally round

Varied shapes

Sep 22, 2023

ADVERTISEMENT

Color

Usually orange

Green, yellow, multicolored

Sep 22, 2023

Culinary Uses

Pies, desserts

Soups, stews, sautés

Sep 22, 2023

Holidays

Halloween, Thanksgiving

None specific

Sep 22, 2023

Botanical Species

Mostly "Cucurbita pepo"

Various including "Cucurbita maxima"

Sep 22, 2023

Definitions

Pumpkin➦

Pumpkin is a round, orange-colored gourd.

I carved a face into the pumpkin for Halloween.

Sep 22, 2023

Squash➦

Squash is commonly used in savory dishes.

I made a squash soup for dinner.

Sep 22, 2023

ADVERTISEMENT

Pumpkin➦

Pumpkin is commonly used in pies and desserts.

She baked a delicious pumpkin pie.

Sep 22, 2023

Squash➦

Squash seeds are also edible.

Squash seeds can be roasted just like pumpkin seeds.

Sep 22, 2023

Pumpkin➦

Pumpkin is rich in vitamins like A and C.

Pumpkin is a nutritious addition to any diet.

Sep 22, 2023

Squash➦

Squash is not specifically associated with any holiday.

We eat squash year-round.

Sep 22, 2023

Pumpkin➦

Pumpkin seeds are edible and can be roasted.

I roasted some pumpkin seeds for a snack.

Sep 22, 2023

Squash➦

Any of various bushy or vining plants of the genus Cucurbita, having unisexual flowers and fleshy edible fruit with a thick rind when mature.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

Pumpkins are especially popular during Halloween and Thanksgiving.

We buy a pumpkin every year for Thanksgiving.

Sep 22, 2023

Squash➦

The fruit of any of these plants, eaten as a vegetable.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

A pumpkin is a cultivar of winter squash that is round with smooth, slightly ribbed skin, and is most often deep yellow to orange in coloration. The thick shell contains the seeds and pulp.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

The act or sound of squashing.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

A round, often large squash with coarse, strongly flavored yellow to orange flesh, numerous seeds, and a moderately hard, usually orange rind.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Something that has been squashed.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

Any of several plants producing these fruits, especially varieties of the species Cucurbita pepo, and also varieties of C. maxima and C. moschata.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

A crushed or crowded mass

A squash of people.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

A moderate to strong orange.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

(Sports) A game played on a four-walled court by two or four players who use long-handled rackets to hit a small rubber ball against the front wall, with play stopping if the ball bounces twice on the floor or does not reach the front wall after a stroke. Also called squash rackets.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

A domesticated plant, in species Cucurbita pepo, similar in growth pattern, foliage, flower, and fruit to the squash or melon.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Chiefly British A citrus-based soft drink.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

The round yellow or orange fruit of this plant.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

To beat, squeeze, or press into a pulp or a flattened mass; crush.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

(uncountable) The color of the fruit of the pumpkin plant.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

To put down or suppress; quash

Squash a revolt.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

(Australia) Any of a number of cultivars from the genus Cucurbita; known in the US as winter squash.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

To silence or fluster, as with crushing words

Squash a heckler.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

(US) A term of endearment for someone small and cute.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

To become crushed, flattened, or pulpy, as by pressure or impact.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

A well-known trailing plant (Cucurbita pepo) and its fruit, - used for cooking and for feeding stock; a pompion.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

To move with a splashing or sucking sound, as when walking through boggy ground.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

A coarse vine widely cultivated for its non-keeping large pulpy round orange fruit with firm orange skin and numerous seeds; subspecies of Cucurbita pepo include the summer squashes and a few autumn squashes

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

With a squashing sound.

Oct 25, 2021

Pumpkin➦

Usually large pulpy deep-yellow round fruit of the squash family maturing in late summer or early autumn

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

(uncountable) A sport played in a walled court with a soft rubber ball and bats like tennis racquets.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

(British) A soft drink made from a fruit-based concentrate diluted with water.

When I'm thirsty I drink squash; it tastes much nicer than plain water.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

A place or a situation where people have limited space to move.

It's a bit of a squash in this small room.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

(biology) A preparation made by placing material on a slide flat, rectangular piece of glass, covering it and applying pressure.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of peas.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Something unripe or soft.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

An extremely one-sided, usually short, match.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

A plant and its fruit of any of a few species of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Cucurbita maxima, including hubbard squash, great winter squash, buttercup squash, and some varieties of pumpkins.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Cucurbita argyrosperma (syn. Cucurbita mixta), cushaw squash.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Cucurbita moschata, butternut squash, Barbary squash, China squash.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Cucurbita pepo, most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash, zucchini.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

(botany) Any other similar-looking plant of other genera.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Lagenaria siceraria (syn. Cucurbita verrucosa), calabash, long-neck squash.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

(culinary) The edible or decorative fruit of these plants, or this fruit prepared as a dish.

We ate squash and green beans.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Muskrat.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

(transitive) To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

To compress or restrict (oneself) into a small space; to squeeze.

Somehow, she squashed all her books into her backpack, which was now too heavy to carry.

We all managed to squash into Mum's tiny car.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

(transitive) To suppress; to force into submission.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

An American animal allied to the weasel.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of pease.

Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy; as a squash is before 't is a peascod.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Hence, something unripe or soft; - used in contempt.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.

My fall was stopped by a terrible squash.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

A game much like rackets, played in a walled court with soft rubber balls and bats like tennis rackets; - called also squash rackets.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Any of numerous annual tendril-bearing trailing plants of the genus Cucurbita grown for their fleshy edible fruits

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Edible fruit of a squash plant; eaten as a vegetable

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

A game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition;

Crush an aluminum can

Squeeze a lemon

Oct 25, 2021

Squash➦

Squash is a gourd that comes in various shapes and colors.

I picked a green squash from the garden.

Sep 22, 2023

Squash➦

Squash also contains beneficial nutrients.

Squash is high in vitamin A.

Sep 22, 2023

FAQs

Are pumpkins and squash the same thing?

While both are gourds, pumpkins and squash differ in shape, color, and culinary uses.

Sep 22, 2023

Can you eat pumpkin seeds?

Yes, pumpkin seeds are edible and often roasted as a snack.

Sep 22, 2023

Can you eat squash seeds?

Yes, squash seeds are also edible and can be roasted.

Sep 22, 2023

What dishes can you make with pumpkin?

Pumpkins are commonly used in pies, desserts, and some savory dishes.

Sep 22, 2023

What dishes can you make with squash?

Squash is versatile and can be used in soups, stews, sautés, and even some desserts.

Sep 22, 2023

Do pumpkins and squash have nutritional benefits?

Yes, both are rich in nutrients like vitamins A and C.

Sep 22, 2023

Are all pumpkins orange?

While most are orange, some varieties can be white, yellow, or even green.

Sep 22, 2023

Can pumpkin and squash be used interchangeably in recipes?

Sometimes, but they have different textures and flavors that may affect the dish.

Sep 22, 2023

Are pumpkins only used for Halloween?

No, pumpkins are also popular for Thanksgiving and are used in various dishes.

Sep 22, 2023

Are all squash yellow?

No, squash can be green, yellow, or even multicolored.

Sep 22, 2023

Can you carve a squash like a pumpkin?

It's possible but less common due to the varied shapes and harder skin of squash.

Sep 22, 2023

Do pumpkins and squash grow on vines?

Yes, both typically grow on vines.

Sep 22, 2023

Is squash a summer or winter vegetable?

Squash can be both; varieties like zucchini are summer squash, while butternut is a winter squash.

Sep 22, 2023

What are the botanical classifications of pumpkin and squash?

Both belong to the genus "Cucurbita," but they can belong to different species.

Sep 22, 2023

What is the shelf life of pumpkins and squash?

Both can last for weeks when stored in a cool, dry place, but this can vary by type.

Sep 22, 2023

Involvement vs. Commitment

⮪ Previous Comparison

Laravel vs. Yii

Next Comparison ➦

Author Spotlight

Written by

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.