Do you call U.S. citizens "Americans"?

[Anonymous]

I have never seen this as an issue. I think of myself as American and regularly refer to U.S. residents as Americans. But I was recently called out on this by a Canadian friend who said that they (and Central and South Americans) take offense at us calling ourselves "American", as though the rest of North American and South America don't exist.

My response is that it's a shortening of "United State of America" not a reference to the continent I live on. And I can't think of any other countries in North or South America who use America in their country name. What else would say we are? United Statesian?
Also, if I were going to refer to my larger region (like Europeans or Asians or Africans) I would say I'm North American, not simply American.

But, liberal me wants to do the right thing. Have you thought about this and how do you refer to yourself if not as an "American"?

[Anonymous]

I call a lot of them Stupids.

[Anonymous]

When I was in law school I did an international mediation skills program in Europe. It was made very clear to us that you never refer to people from the US as "the Americans" to anyone else from the western hemisphere because you will most certainly cause offense. The Americas stretch from Canada to Chile, and everyone who lives here are "Americans."

[Anonymous]

They hate us cause they ain't us.

[Anonymous]

It's a dumb trend they are trying to start. As a European (who is now a US citizen) no one will ever call Canadians, Mexicans, etc. Americans. Just not going to happen. Perhaps they should change the name of their country to the United Provinces of North America if they want to be called Americans too?

[Anonymous]

Just call yourself whatever you want. Everyone else does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen this as an issue. I think of myself as American and regularly refer to U.S. residents as Americans. But I was recently called out on this by a Canadian friend who said that they (and Central and South Americans) take offense at us calling ourselves "American", as though the rest of North American and South America don't exist.

My response is that it's a shortening of "United State of America" not a reference to the continent I live on. And I can't think of any other countries in North or South America who use America in their country name. What else would say we are? United Statesian?
Also, if I were going to refer to my larger region (like Europeans or Asians or Africans) I would say I'm North American, not simply American.

But, liberal me wants to do the right thing. Have you thought about this and how do you refer to yourself if not as an "American"?

This sounds fake. Your Canadian friend wants to be called an American? Sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was in law school I did an international mediation skills program in Europe. It was made very clear to us that you never refer to people from the US as "the Americans" to anyone else from the western hemisphere because you will most certainly cause offense. The Americas stretch from Canada to Chile, and everyone who lives here are "Americans."

Where in Europe? Because I am a European and we have never referred to Canadians as Americans. We know our geography and understand which continent their country is on. It's just not something we do.

[Anonymous]

2 issues: we have 7 continents in the USA that we learn about- North America and South America are different. In South America, they only have 1 American continent and consider themselves "Americans" the way all the people on the European continent consider themselves "Europeans." I didn't understand this because I would call them "South Americans."

The other issue is that in Spanish, they call us "estadounidense." There's a similar word in French. There isn't a word in English for "United Stateser," which is why many people say American. United Stateser is what they want us to call ourselves, but it doesn't translate.

I absolutely call myself an American. It's in our name. Mexico is actually "The United States of Mexico" but no one is telling them they can't be just Mexicans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a dumb trend they are trying to start. As a European (who is now a US citizen) no one will ever call Canadians, Mexicans, etc. Americans. Just not going to happen. Perhaps they should change the name of their country to the United Provinces of North America if they want to be called Americans too?

It's like we (Americans) are the Kleenex, Xerox, Frigidaire, and they are the generic brands. So sad.

[Anonymous]

I knew a German woman who would ways write "US-Americans" for Americans but would just call Canadians "Canadians."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen this as an issue. I think of myself as American and regularly refer to U.S. residents as Americans. But I was recently called out on this by a Canadian friend who said that they (and Central and South Americans) take offense at us calling ourselves "American", as though the rest of North American and South America don't exist.

My response is that it's a shortening of "United State of America" not a reference to the continent I live on. And I can't think of any other countries in North or South America who use America in their country name. What else would say we are? United Statesian?
Also, if I were going to refer to my larger region (like Europeans or Asians or Africans) I would say I'm North American, not simply American.

But, liberal me wants to do the right thing. Have you thought about this and how do you refer to yourself if not as an "American"?

That's your problem right there (bolded), OP. Why do you care what idiots like this think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen this as an issue. I think of myself as American and regularly refer to U.S. residents as Americans. But I was recently called out on this by a Canadian friend who said that they (and Central and South Americans) take offense at us calling ourselves "American", as though the rest of North American and South America don't exist.

My response is that it's a shortening of "United State of America" not a reference to the continent I live on. And I can't think of any other countries in North or South America who use America in their country name. What else would say we are? United Statesian?
Also, if I were going to refer to my larger region (like Europeans or Asians or Africans) I would say I'm North American, not simply American.

But, liberal me wants to do the right thing. Have you thought about this and how do you refer to yourself if not as an "American"?

It's South Americans who are the most vocal about people in USA not calling ourselves American. The Canadian is just repeating their party line.

There is not a "North America" to South Americans. They consider both continents to be one American continent. That seems the easiest to fix actually. Their schools should teach S and N America as separate continents to stop the confusion.

[Anonymous]

I'm Canadian and most often refer to you as Americans. But also sometimes "U-S-ians".

I do know some people that take offense to "americans" because there are many countries in the americas, but I don't really subscribe to the anger. If I said it and someone said something against it, I would refrain from it around them.

[Anonymous]

There's a push to get us to change the names of songs like "American the beautiful" because the South Americans get so upset over it. They're very vocal online.