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
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Key Differences
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Comparison Chart
Shape
Generally round
Varied shapes
Color
Usually orange
Green, yellow, multicolored
Culinary Uses
Pies, desserts
Soups, stews, sautés
Holidays
Halloween, Thanksgiving
None specific
Botanical Species
Mostly "Cucurbita pepo"
Various including "Cucurbita maxima"
Compare with Definitions
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a round, orange-colored gourd.
I carved a face into the pumpkin for Halloween.
Squash
Squash is commonly used in savory dishes.
I made a squash soup for dinner.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is commonly used in pies and desserts.
She baked a delicious pumpkin pie.
Squash
Squash seeds are also edible.
Squash seeds can be roasted just like pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is rich in vitamins like A and C.
Pumpkin is a nutritious addition to any diet.
Squash
Squash is not specifically associated with any holiday.
We eat squash year-round.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin seeds are edible and can be roasted.
I roasted some pumpkin seeds for a snack.
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.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are especially popular during Halloween and Thanksgiving.
We buy a pumpkin every year for Thanksgiving.
Squash
The fruit of any of these plants, eaten as a vegetable.
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.
Squash
The act or sound of squashing.
Pumpkin
A round, often large squash with coarse, strongly flavored yellow to orange flesh, numerous seeds, and a moderately hard, usually orange rind.
Squash
Something that has been squashed.
Pumpkin
Any of several plants producing these fruits, especially varieties of the species Cucurbita pepo, and also varieties of C. maxima and C. moschata.
Squash
A crushed or crowded mass
A squash of people.
Pumpkin
A moderate to strong orange.
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.
Pumpkin
A domesticated plant, in species Cucurbita pepo, similar in growth pattern, foliage, flower, and fruit to the squash or melon.
Squash
Chiefly British A citrus-based soft drink.
Pumpkin
The round yellow or orange fruit of this plant.
Squash
To beat, squeeze, or press into a pulp or a flattened mass; crush.
Pumpkin
(uncountable) The color of the fruit of the pumpkin plant.
Squash
To put down or suppress; quash
Squash a revolt.
Pumpkin
(Australia) Any of a number of cultivars from the genus Cucurbita; known in the US as winter squash.
Squash
To silence or fluster, as with crushing words
Squash a heckler.
Pumpkin
(US) A term of endearment for someone small and cute.
Squash
To become crushed, flattened, or pulpy, as by pressure or impact.
Pumpkin
A well-known trailing plant (Cucurbita pepo) and its fruit, - used for cooking and for feeding stock; a pompion.
Squash
To move with a splashing or sucking sound, as when walking through boggy ground.
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
Squash
With a squashing sound.
Pumpkin
Usually large pulpy deep-yellow round fruit of the squash family maturing in late summer or early autumn
Squash
(uncountable) A sport played in a walled court with a soft rubber ball and bats like tennis racquets.
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.
Squash
A place or a situation where people have limited space to move.
It's a bit of a squash in this small room.
Squash
(biology) A preparation made by placing material on a slide flat, rectangular piece of glass, covering it and applying pressure.
Squash
Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of peas.
Squash
Something unripe or soft.
Squash
A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.
Squash
An extremely one-sided, usually short, match.
Squash
A plant and its fruit of any of a few species of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.
Squash
Cucurbita maxima, including hubbard squash, great winter squash, buttercup squash, and some varieties of pumpkins.
Squash
Cucurbita argyrosperma (syn. Cucurbita mixta), cushaw squash.
Squash
Cucurbita moschata, butternut squash, Barbary squash, China squash.
Squash
Cucurbita pepo, most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash, zucchini.
Squash
(botany) Any other similar-looking plant of other genera.
Squash
Lagenaria siceraria (syn. Cucurbita verrucosa), calabash, long-neck squash.
Squash
(culinary) The edible or decorative fruit of these plants, or this fruit prepared as a dish.
We ate squash and green beans.
Squash
Muskrat.
Squash
(transitive) To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.
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.
Squash
(transitive) To suppress; to force into submission.
Squash
An American animal allied to the weasel.
Squash
A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.
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.
Squash
Hence, something unripe or soft; - used in contempt.
Squash
A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.
My fall was stopped by a terrible squash.
Squash
A game much like rackets, played in a walled court with soft rubber balls and bats like tennis rackets; - called also squash rackets.
Squash
To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.
Squash
Any of numerous annual tendril-bearing trailing plants of the genus Cucurbita grown for their fleshy edible fruits
Squash
Edible fruit of a squash plant; eaten as a vegetable
Squash
A game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets
Squash
To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition;
Crush an aluminum can
Squeeze a lemon
Squash
Squash is a gourd that comes in various shapes and colors.
I picked a green squash from the garden.
Squash
Squash also contains beneficial nutrients.
Squash is high in vitamin A.
Common Curiosities
Are pumpkins and squash the same thing?
While both are gourds, pumpkins and squash differ in shape, color, and culinary uses.
Can you eat pumpkin seeds?
Yes, pumpkin seeds are edible and often roasted as a snack.
Can you eat squash seeds?
Yes, squash seeds are also edible and can be roasted.
What dishes can you make with pumpkin?
Pumpkins are commonly used in pies, desserts, and some savory dishes.
What dishes can you make with squash?
Squash is versatile and can be used in soups, stews, sautés, and even some desserts.
Do pumpkins and squash have nutritional benefits?
Yes, both are rich in nutrients like vitamins A and C.
Are all pumpkins orange?
While most are orange, some varieties can be white, yellow, or even green.
Can pumpkin and squash be used interchangeably in recipes?
Sometimes, but they have different textures and flavors that may affect the dish.
Are pumpkins only used for Halloween?
No, pumpkins are also popular for Thanksgiving and are used in various dishes.
Are all squash yellow?
No, squash can be green, yellow, or even multicolored.
Can you carve a squash like a pumpkin?
It's possible but less common due to the varied shapes and harder skin of squash.
Do pumpkins and squash grow on vines?
Yes, both typically grow on vines.
Is squash a summer or winter vegetable?
Squash can be both; varieties like zucchini are summer squash, while butternut is a winter squash.
What are the botanical classifications of pumpkin and squash?
Both belong to the genus "Cucurbita," but they can belong to different species.
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.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba 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.
