Learn Italian: Preferisci l'autunno o l'inverno? - Do you prefer autumn or winter?

In Italian, you generally use the definite article (the "the" word) before seasons when talking about them in a general sense, like stating a preference. Since autunno and inverno are both masculine words that start with a vowel, the article becomes l'.

Is autunno the only word for this season, or is there a different word for "fall"?

Italian just has the one word: autunno. You can translate it to either "autumn" or "fall" in English depending on what you normally say.

Why does the verb end in -isci (preferisci)? Shouldn't it just be "preferi"?

The dictionary form is preferire (to prefer). It belongs to a special group of -ire verbs that add -isc- before the ending for I, you, he/she, and they. So for "you" (tu), instead of "preferi", it becomes preferisci. You will also see this in common verbs like capire (to understand) and finire (to finish).

How do I pronounce l'autunno and l'inverno? Do I pause after the apostrophe?

No pause! When a word combines with an article using an apostrophe, you blend them together smoothly as one single word. Pronounce them as if they were spelled "lautunno" and "linverno".