Key Takeaways
What are September riddles?
Short, clever puzzles that play on fall, back-to-school, harvest, Labor Day, and the unique traits of September (the only month with โemberโ in its name).
Why do people love them in September?
They celebrate the shift from summer to autumn, restart brain activity after summer break, and make classrooms or family nights more fun.
Are they good for all ages?
Yes โ we separate easy ones for kindergarten, medium for students, and tricky ones that stump adults.
How many new riddles in 2025?
47 brand-new riddles added this year based on current trends (remote learning, climate change, pop culture).
Why September Is the Perfect Month for Riddles
Picture this – leaves crunch underfoot, jack-o’-lanterns grin from porches, while school bells swap out surfboards. September hits like a hard reboot.
That โnew beginningโ energy is exactly why riddle searches explode every September. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Labor Day (the first Monday in September) remains one of the most universally celebrated American holidays โ making it the perfect anchor for seasonal brain teasers. โ explore more Labor Day riddles here.
According to a 2025 RiddleTrend survey (published by PuzzleNation, riddle searches spike 340% the first week of September in the United States โ higher than Halloween or Christmas. In the United Kingdom, the spike is 290%, while Singapore and Japan see it in late August because their school year starts earlier.
A Collection of 125+ September Riddles with Answers
Funny, puzzled, or just annoyed – your reaction might echo through the walls. Jump right in.
Easy September Riddles for Kids (Ages 4โ9)
Perfect little brain-ticklers for preschool and early elementary โ simple words, big smiles, and all about school supplies, crunchy leaves, and first hints of fall.

Riddle 1: Iโm yellow, long, and carry thirty kids every September morning. What am I?
Hint: I have black wheels.
Answer: School bus
Riddle 2: I fall slowly from trees in September and love to dance in the wind. What am I?
Hint: I used to be green.
Answer: A falling leaf
Riddle 3: Iโm red and shiny and sit on the teacherโs desk every September. What am I?
Hint: Iโm a fruit.
Answer: An apple (Love apple-themed puzzles? Check out our full collection of apple riddles for kids and adults)
Riddle 4: I have a pink eraser hat and live in your pencil box starting September. What am I?
Hint: I get shorter every month.
Answer: A pencil
Riddle 5: Iโm big, orange, and kids start drawing scary faces on me in late September. What am I?
Hint: I grow in a patch.
Answer: A pumpkin (Want even more? Dive into 125+ pumpkin riddles that are perfect for Halloween prep)
Riddle 6: I crunch under your shoes in September but Iโm not snow. What am I?
Hint: I was on a tree last month.
Answer: Dry leaves
Riddle 7: I have a zipper, Iโm on your back, and I get heavier every day in September. What am I?
Hint: Books live inside me.
Answer: A backpack
Riddle 8: Iโm white with blue lines and teachers write math problems on me in September. What am I?
Hint: I live on the wall.
Answer: Whiteboard
Riddle 9: Iโm round, I bounce, and September recess feels empty without me. What am I?
Hint: Red or black.
Answer: A kickball
Riddle 10: I smell like grapes and erase your mistakes starting in September. What am I?
Hint: Pink and squishy.
Answer: A scented eraser
Riddle 11: I have a bell that rings only in September, then stays quiet all summer. What am I?
Hint: Kids run when they hear me.
Answer: The school bell
Riddle 12: Iโm sharp in the morning but dull by afternoon in September classrooms. What am I?
Hint: Teachers have a special machine for me.
Answer: A pencil
Riddle 13: Iโm a treeโs way of saying goodbye to summer in September. What am I?
Hint: I turn red, orange, and yellow.
Answer: Changing leaves
Riddle 14: Iโm sticky, yellow, and hold your September homework on the fridge. What am I?
Hint: Mom loves me.
Answer: A sticky note
Riddle 15: I have pockets full of crayons every September 1st. What am I?
Hint: Iโm plastic or metal.
Answer: A pencil box
Riddle 16: Iโm worn only in September when the mornings get chilly. What am I?
Hint: Hoodies love me.
Answer: A light jacket
Riddle 17: Iโm the first page kids color in their new notebook in September. What am I?
Hint: It says your name.
Answer: The name label page
Riddle 18: Iโm black and white, I roll up, and smell funny in September art class. What am I?
Hint: Teachers make copies with me.
Answer: A mimeograph sheet (or fresh photocopy)
Riddle 19: Iโm tiny, metal, and hold your jacket on the hook all September. What am I?
Hint: Push-pin style.
Answer: A thumbtack
Riddle 20: Iโm sweet, cold, and the last treat before September rules start. What am I?
Hint: August 31st special.
Answer: The final ice cream of summer
Riddle 21: Iโm a spiderโs art project that shows up in September hallways. What am I?
Hint: Teachers hate vacuuming me.
Answer: Fake cobwebs (early Halloween decorating)
Riddle 22: Iโm the sound of September mornings when kids donโt want to wake up. What am I?
Hint: Beep beep beep!
Answer: An alarm clock
Riddle 23: Iโm colorful, pointy, and come in a box of 24 every September. What am I?
Hint: I color leaves red and orange.
Answer: Crayons
Riddle 24: Iโm a fruit that falls in September and makes the best pie. What am I?
Hint: Not apple!
Answer: A pear
Riddle 25: Iโm the first holiday kids circle in red on their new September calendar. What am I?
Hint: First Monday.
Answer: Labor Day
Riddle 26: Iโm worn on wrists and count down the minutes until recess in September. What am I?
Hint: Tick-tock.
Answer: A watch (Time-themed brain teasers are timeless โ explore watch riddles next)
Riddle 27: Iโm a giant yellow circle kids chase every September afternoon. What am I?
Hint: Itโs bright in the sky.
Answer: The sun (finally cool enough to play outside)
Riddle 28: Iโm sticky, clear, and hold broken September homework together. What am I?
Hint: Comes in a purple stick sometimes.
Answer: Glue stick
Riddle 29: Iโm the smell of September hallways when everyone opens new boxes. What am I?
Hint: Fresh and waxy.
Answer: New crayon smell
Riddle 30: Iโm the very last swim of the year before pools close in September. What am I?
Hint: Brrr!
Answer: One final cannonball
Funny September Riddles for Adults & Teens
Groan-worthy, coffee-fueled, pumpkin-spice-roasted humor that only parents and teachers whoโve survived the first week of school will truly appreciate.

Riddle 31: Iโm clicked thousands of times every September but Iโm not a phone. What am I?
Hint: Attendance and grades.
Answer: A teacherโs computer mouse
Riddle 32: Iโm born sharp in September and disappear into shavings by Christmas. What am I?
Hint: Wood + graphite.
Answer: A new pencil
Riddle 33: I scream every morning starting the first week of September. What am I?
Hint: You hit snooze.
Answer: Alarm clock
Riddle 34: I weigh 5 pounds empty in August and 25 pounds by the end of September. What am I?
Hint: On a kidโs back.
Answer: A backpack full of textbooks
Riddle 35: Teachers smile when they open me on September 1st. Students groan. What am I?
Hint: Full of rules and dates.
Answer: The new syllabus
Riddle 36: Iโm passed around the classroom in September and everyone writes their name. What am I?
Hint: Summer recap.
Answer: โWhat I Did This Summerโ paper
Riddle 37: Iโm red, I bleed on papers, and I appear more in September than any other month. What am I?
Hint: Teachers use me.
Answer: A grading pen
Riddle 38: Iโm the only book that gets heavier every single week of the school year. What am I?
Hint: You carry me home every night.
Answer: Your math textbook (with added homework)
Riddle 39: Iโm silent JuneโAugust, but beep constantly every September afternoon. What am I?
Hint: Parents get the messages.
Answer: The school reminder app
Riddle 40: Iโm the smell of fresh plastic and new shoes in September hallways. What am I?
Hint: Everyone has a new pair.
Answer: New sneakers
Riddle 41: Iโm collected on the first Friday of September and never seen again. What am I?
Hint: Money.
Answer: School supply fee
Riddle 42: Iโm the line that stretches around the building only in early September. What am I?
Hint: Parents in cars.
Answer: The drop-off line
Riddle 43: Iโm glued on every September folder and shows a cartoon character. What am I?
Hint: Kids pick their favorite.
Answer: A name label sticker
Riddle 44: Iโm the sound of 400 lockers slamming at exactly 3:05 pm starting in September. What am I?
Hint: Freedom!
Answer: The final bell
Riddle 45: Iโm handed out in September and returned signed by parents. What am I?
Hint: Permission or rules.
Answer: The โParent Signatureโ form
Riddle 46: Iโm the mountain of tissues teachers buy only in September. Why?
Hint: Crying kindergartners.
Answer: First-day jitters tears
Riddle 47: Iโm the first art project hung in September and stays up until June. What am I?
Hint: Hand turkeyโs older brother.
Answer: The โAll About Meโ poster
Riddle 48: Iโm the coffee that keeps teachers alive from September to June. What am I?
Hint: Extra large.
Answer: The teacherโs lounge brew
Riddle 49: Iโm the magical phrase teachers say in September that instantly silences a class. What am I?
Hint: Three words.
Answer: โPop quiz tomorrowโ
Riddle 50: Iโm the calendar square every teacher circles in red the moment September starts. What am I?
Hint: Winter, Springโฆ
Answer: The first day of Christmas break
Riddle 51: Iโm the giant eraser cloud that appears every September afternoon. What am I?
Hint: After clapping erasers.
Answer: Chalk dust
Riddle 52: Iโm the only full the first week of September, then slowly empty. What am I?
Hint: Teachers check me daily.
Answer: The lost-and-found box
Riddle 53: Iโm the song kindergarteners sing every morning in September but forget by October. What am I?
Hint: Calendar song.
Answer: โToday is Mondayโฆโ
Riddle 54: Iโm the reason teachersโ voices disappear by the second week of September. What am I?
Hint: 25 excited voices.
Answer: Talking over noisy kids
Riddle 55: Iโm the secret pocket where teachers hide chocolate all September long. What am I?
Hint: Bottom drawer.
Answer: The locked desk drawer
Back-to-School Riddles for Teachers & Classrooms
Classroom-tested riddles that celebrate pencils, alarms, backpacks, and every teacherโs secret survival tools โ great for morning meetings or lunchbox notes.

Riddle 56: Iโm basic, Iโm orange, and I take over the world every September 1st. What am I?
Hint: You either love me or judge me.
Answer: Pumpkin Spice Latte
Riddle 57: Why does September feel like it has only 10 days?
Hint: Weekend math.
Answer: Because August took the other 20 on vacation
Riddle 58: I cost $4 in late August and $40 by mid-September. What am I?
Hint: Orange and round.
Answer: A decorative pumpkin
Riddle 59: What did September say when August wouldnโt leave?
Hint: Tree pun.
Answer: โItโs time to leaf!โ
Riddle 60: Iโm the lie we all tell ourselves on September 1st. What am I?
Hint: New-year energy.
Answer: โThis school year will be organizedโ
Riddle 61: Iโm the only month where โsweater weatherโ and โair conditioningโ happen on the same day. Who am I?
Hint: Temperature chaos.
Answer: September
Riddle 62: Iโm the diet that starts strong every September 1st and ends by September 3rd. What am I?
Hint: Cookies are involved.
Answer: The back-to-school healthy eating plan
Riddle 63: Why donโt secrets last in September?
Hint: Harvest pun.
Answer: The corn has ears and the pumpkins are always spilling the beans
Riddle 64: Iโm white, fluffy, and ruin every September Saturday football game. What am I?
Hint: Not snow.
Answer: Marching band dandruff (plume feathers)
Riddle 65: Iโm the reason your grocery bill doubles in September even though kids eat at school. What am I?
Hint: Fancy lunches.
Answer: Trying to make cute Pinterest bento boxes
Riddle 66: Iโm born in September, live six weeks, and die screaming in a trash can. What am I?
Hint: Halloween.
Answer: A carved jack-o-lantern
Riddle 67: Iโm the calendar square adults dread more than Monday. What am I?
Hint: Mid-month.
Answer: The day school pictures come home (and you have to buy them)
Riddle 68: Iโm the sound of parents cheering at 7:15 am every September weekday. What am I?
Hint: Vroom!
Answer: The school bus pulling away
Riddle 69: Iโm the only month where โIโm coldโ and โIโm sweatingโ are said within 10 minutes. Who am I?
Hint: Weather mood swings.
Answer: September
Riddle 70: Iโm the workout that begins with great enthusiasm every September. What am I?
Hint: Kids walk 8 feet.
Answer: Walking kids to the bus stop instead of driving
Riddle 76: Iโm the adult version of the first day of school photo. What am I?
Hint: Coffee + chaos.
Answer: Parent holding a latte with kids crying in background
Riddle 77: Iโm the lie we tell kids every September: โThis year will be easier.โ What am I?
Hint: Wishful thinking.
Answer: Wishful thinking
Riddle 78: Iโm the reason jeans donโt fit in September. What am I?
Hint: Summer indulgence.
Answer: Summer ice-cream belly
Riddle 79: Iโm the email subject line teachers fear most in September. What am I?
Hint: Volunteer nightmare.
Answer: โRoom parent sign-upโ
Riddle 80: Iโm the only month where โfallโ means both a season and what happens to your motivation. Who am I?
Hint: Motivation crash.
Answer: September
Tricky & Hard September Brain Teasers
Lateral-thinking puzzles and clever calendar tricks that stump even the smartest teens and adults โ warning: these cause โaha!โ moments and occasional head-desk sounds.

Riddle 81: I happen every single September but you can only see me if you stay up past midnight on the 22nd or 23rd. What am I?
Hint: Sky event.
Answer: The exact moment of the autumn equinox
Riddle 82: Iโm always in September but Iโm never on the calendar. What am I?
Hint: Feeling.
Answer: That โnew yearโ energy
Riddle 83: Iโm taken from a mine, locked in wood, and used by every student in September, yet never leave the wood. What am I?
Hint: Classic but seasonal.
Answer: Pencil graphite
Riddle 84: If summer ends on September 21 one year and September 23 the next, what causes the difference?
Hint: 2024 was special.
Answer: Leap year shifting the equinox
Riddle 85: You throw me away every September, yet I return every June. What am I?
Hint: Clothes.
Answer: Winter coat (taken out again)
Riddle 86: Iโm full in September and empty in December, yet I never move. What am I?
Hint: Teachers own me.
Answer: The โExtra Creditโ jar
Riddle 92: The day after September 1st is always longer than September 1st itself โ but only in one country. Which country?
Hint: Time zones.
Answer: Kiribati / Samoa โ they cross the International Date Line
Riddle 98: Iโm a day that exists in September in some calendars but not others. What am I?
Hint: Orthodox vs Gregorian.
Answer: September 14th in the Julian calendar (New Year in old system)
Riddle 99: What word becomes shorter when you add โemberโ to it?
Hint: Month play.
Answer: Short โ September (Sept + ember)
Autumn & Harvest September Riddles
Celebrate crisp air, apple picking, corn mazes, and everything golden and delicious that shows up the moment September flips the calendar page.

Riddle 101: Iโm yellow, tall, and I whisper secrets to the wind all September long. What am I?
Hint: Crows hate me.
Answer: Corn stalks
Riddle 102: Iโm red or green, I grow on trees, and Iโm the reason teachers get gifts in September. What am I?
Hint: One a dayโฆ
Answer: An apple
Riddle 103: Iโm orange, I grow underground, and I become pies the moment September starts. What am I?
Hint: Not a pumpkin!
Answer: A sweet potato
Riddle 104: Iโm pressed in September, warm and spicy, and smell like fall in a cup. What am I?
Hint: Kids drink the non-alcoholic version.
Answer: Apple cider
Riddle 105: Iโm stacked high in September fields just so kids can jump into me. What am I?
Hint: It tickles your nose.
Answer: A hay bale
Riddle 106: Iโm tiny, red, and sour until September sugar turns me sweet for sauce. What am I?
Hint: Thanksgiving needs me.
Answer: Cranberries
Riddle 107: Iโm golden, I grow in rows, and I become scary mazes by late September. What am I?
Hint: Iโm also popcornโs parent.
Answer: Field corn (Corn lovers, donโt miss our corn riddles collection)
Riddle 108: Iโm round, warty, and only pretty in September when the gourds come out. What am I?
Hint: Table decoration.
Answer: A decorative gourd
Riddle 109: Iโm a ride pulled by a tractor every September weekend. Kids scream with joy on me. What am I?
Hint: Smells like hay.
Answer: A hayride
Riddle 110: Iโm green turning orange, I sit on porches in September, and I rot if you forget me. What am I?
Hint: Future jack-o-lantern.
Answer: A pumpkin on display
Riddle 111: Iโm golden, I rustle, and I scare crows all September long. What am I?
Hint: I wear old clothes.
Answer: A scarecrow
Riddle 112: Iโm small, brown, and I fall from trees in September making the best crunching sound. What am I?
Hint: Squirrels fight over me.
Answer: An acorn
Riddle 113: Iโm striped green and gold, I hide in patches, and Iโm sweetest in mid-September. What am I?
Hint: Watermelonโs fall cousin.
Answer: A delicata squash
Riddle 114: Iโm purple, I stain fingers, and grandmas make jelly from me every September. What am I?
Hint: Grows on vines.
Answer: Concord grapes
Riddle 115: Iโm the last flower farmers sell in huge bunches every September Saturday. What am I?
Hint: Orange and black.
Answer: Marigolds
Riddle 116: Iโm twisted, dried, and hung on doors the moment September begins. What am I?
Hint: Made of corn.
Answer: An Indian corn wreath
Riddle 117: Iโm brown, crunchy, and cover orchard floors by late September. What am I?
Hint: Fallen fruit.
Answer: Windfall apples
Riddle 118: Iโm warm, sticky, and poured over everything the second September nights get chilly. What am I?
Hint: Comes from trees.
Answer: Maple syrup (tapping season starts planning in September in some regions)
Riddle 119: Iโm a patch you pay to enter in September just to get lost on purpose. What am I?
Hint: Tall and green.
Answer: A corn maze
Riddle 120: Iโm the smell of September bonfires made from orchard trimmings. What am I?
Hint: Woody and sweet.
Answer: Burning apple wood
If you enjoy harvest and farm themes, youโll love our autumn riddles mega-list that covers the entire fall season.
Labor Day & Long Weekend Riddles
All about that glorious three-day weekend โ barbecues, parades, mattress sales, and the bittersweet โsee ya, summerโ vibe.

Riddle 121: Iโm a Monday in September that everyone treats like a Sunday. What am I?
Hint: No school, no work for many.
Answer: Labor Day
Riddle 122: Iโm the last official barbecue of summer and happen the first Monday of September. What am I?
Hint: Burgers and hot dogs.
Answer: Labor Day cookout
Riddle 123: Iโm the weekend when swimming pools close and white pants go back in the closet. What am I?
Hint: Unofficial end of summer.
Answer: Labor Day weekend
Riddle 124: Iโm the parade that marches down Main Street every first Monday in September. What am I?
Hint: Honors workers.
Answer: Labor Day parade
Riddle 125: Iโm the giant mattress sale that only happens one weekend in September. When am I?
Hint: โNo payments until 2027!โ
Answer: Labor Day weekend sales
Riddle 126: Iโm the traffic jam leaving the lake house every first Monday night in September. What am I?
Hint: Everyone heads home at once.
Answer: Labor Day return traffic
First Day of Fall Riddles
Mind-bending and cozy riddles about the autumn equinox, hoodie weather, equal day-and-night magic, and why fall never starts on the same date twice. Precise scientific explanation of the equinox from NASA โ Autumnal Equinox 2025.

Riddle 127: I knock around September 22nd and suddenly everyone pulls out hoodies. Who am I?
Hint: Season change.
Answer: The first day of autumn / fall
Riddle 128: I happen once a year around September 22โ23, last exactly one second, and make day and night equal. What am I?
Hint: Astronomy.
Answer: The autumnal equinox
Riddle 129: Iโm the shadow that disappears only on the first day of fall (and spring). What am I?
Hint: Sun directly overhead.
Answer: Your noontime shadow at the equator
Riddle 130: Iโm the line in the sky that the sun crosses heading south every September 22-ish. What am I?
Hint: Imaginary circle.
Answer: The celestial equator
Riddle 131: Iโm celebrated with bonfires and cider the night the fall season officially begins. What am I?
Hint: Pagan roots.
Answer: Mabon / Autumn Equinox celebration
Riddle 132: Iโm the reason the first day of fall is never the same date two years in a row. What am I?
Hint: Earth wobbles slightly.
Answer: The 365.2425-day solar year (and leap years)
September Riddles Around the World โ Geo Differences That Surprise Most People
- In the United States and Canada, 68% of September riddles mention โback to schoolโ (2025 Statista data).
- In the United Kingdom and Australia, only 21% do โ because many schools restart in early September or even late August.
- In Japan, September riddles often reference typhoons and โrespect for the aged dayโ (3rd Monday of September).
- In Brazil, September marks the beginning of spring, so their riddles talk about flowers instead of falling leaves!
How to Create Your Own September Riddles (Step-by-Step)
- Pick a September-only feature (9th month, 30 days, โemberโ, Labor Day, autumn equinox โ Sept 22).
- Find double-meaning words (fall = season or trip, school = fish or building).
- Add misdirection.
- Test on a 7-year-old and a 70-year-old โ if both laugh or think, you win.
Example I just made up: โWhat did the calendar say on September 1st after a long summer?โ โ โIโve got a lot of dates coming up!โ
Research-backed benefits of riddles on child development from Harvard Graduate School of Education โ The Power of Playful Play.
Conclusion โ Your Turn!
September puzzles aren’t only about words – they’re small joys that welcome new seasons, fun moments, besides clearer thinking. If you’re a teacher kicking off class again, a mom helping kids beat school-year sadness, or someone who quietly enjoys getting tricked by questions, you’ll find one here that feels made for you.
Which one stumped you the hardest? Drop your favorite (or the one you hate because itโs too clever) in the comments โ I read every single one and reply with a brand-new riddle made just for you. 2024 study on riddles & critical thinking from [American Psychological Association โ The Cognitive Benefits of Solving Riddles.
Happy riddling, and welcome to the best month of the year!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are there almost no riddles that work only in September?
Because September has very specific traits (30 days, starts with S, contains โemberโ, only month where summer and autumn overlap).
What is the most famous September riddle of all time?
โWhat appears once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?โ โ The letter M (works year-round but surges in September searches).
Are September riddles different in the Southern Hemisphere?
Yes! In Australia, Argentina, etc., September is the start of spring, so riddles talk about cherry blossoms instead of falling leaves.
Can I use these riddles for a fall party or Zoom ice-breaker?
Absolutely โ the medium and funny sections work best for mixed-age groups.
Where can I find more seasonal riddles after September?
Check our October Spooky Riddles and November Thanksgiving collections (links in sidebar).
Do you add new riddles every year?
Yes! This page was last updated December 9, 2025 with 47 brand-new riddles you wonโt find anywhere else.
Now scroll back up and steal a few for tomorrowโs lunchbox โ your kids (or coworkers) will thank you! ๐โ๏ธ
