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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I've never heard anyone in my whole life use that phrase. It's not pretty. A USian sounds like an alien.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think I’ve ever said “U.S. Citizens” unless I’m repeating word for word a news article.

[Anonymous]

So is this like when people from NYS but outside of NYC call themselves New Yorkers?

[Anonymous]

In my experience, Americans refers to citizens of the lower 48 states, Hawaii, Alaska,& Greenland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ugh, no.

United Mexican States. Estados Unidos Mexicanos.

[Anonymous]

[quote=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"?[/quote]

Ignore it! They just want to knock down the folks on the top. I used to feel like you until I spent 10 years in different countries and realized they are just trying to knock you down. It’s similar to everyone saying “everyone is an immigrant in the US so the US needs to keep its soil laws while OUR country will keep parentage laws” (typically arrogant Europeans - one set of rules for OLD WORLD but you need to adhere to different rules that also benefit OLD WORLD COUNTRIES). When other countries (like Scotland, Netherlands, Spain, and France recognize ME as a citizen because 200+ years ago I had an ancestor there then I might agree that we are not unique and everyone should have access to the land we call the US. The truth is - my ancestors set up this country and I’m truly American (not Unites Statesian). Nothing made me more patriotic than the arrogance of other nationalities. Why should they feel patriotic about their nation and constantly try to take us down a peg?

So when people make comments like this I say “you can call yourself American if you want to. The whole region is the Americas. It might be confusing for everyone else though, considering everyone else in the world sees US citizens as ‘Americans’. But, hey, I’m not going to be the one to say it’s wrong.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

And yet they all want to come here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I've never heard anyone in my whole life use that phrase. It's not pretty. A USian sounds like an alien.

Oh it for sure does. I think that's part of the point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They hate us cause they ain't us.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, Americans refers to citizens of the lower 48 states, Hawaii, Alaska,& Greenland.

Uhm, what???

[Anonymous]

As somebody from Central America, we call people from the United States “Americanos” yes, even though we are from the Americas.

Please tell your virtue signaling Canadian friend that it is not offensive to us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

And yet they all want to come here.

I've already posted upthread that I think it's dumb to get upset about this and I refuse to participate, but no, not everyone is eager to come here. 30 years ago, sure. But this place ain't what it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

And yet they all want to come here.

I've already posted upthread that I think it's dumb to get upset about this and I refuse to participate, but no, not everyone is eager to come here. 30 years ago, sure. But this place ain't what it used to be.

Fair enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ugh, no.

United Mexican States. Estados Unidos Mexicanos.

They both start with Estado Unidos...

[Anonymous]

The people of Venezuela are Americans too, OP.