Referring to people from USA as "American"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are splitting hairs. North American is accurate, but so is American.

OP here. When I refer to myself as "American" I am corrected often by Spanish speakers.

I'm not trying to split hairs.

Mexico is also the United States of Mexico, but no one refers to them (in Spanish) as United Statesers.

Are you speaking English or Spanish when this happens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are splitting hairs. North American is accurate, but so is American.

OP here. When I refer to myself as "American" I am corrected often by Spanish speakers.

I'm not trying to split hairs.

Mexico is also the United States of Mexico, but no one refers to them (in Spanish) as United Statesers.

OP, point that Mexican example out to them. Do they call them Mexican? And point out that it is more accurate to say they are North American and South American if they insist on using the word American.

I'd let it slide until they tried to correct me, then I'd enjoy pointing out the faults in their logic and nomenclature. I don't always have to be right, unless you try to tell me I'm wrong.

[Anonymous]

Out of curiosity, what is the actual term in Spanish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of curiosity, what is the actual term in Spanish?

estadounidense- United Stateser

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are splitting hairs. North American is accurate, but so is American.

OP here. When I refer to myself as "American" I am corrected often by Spanish speakers.

I'm not trying to split hairs.

Mexico is also the United States of Mexico, but no one refers to them (in Spanish) as United Statesers.

Are you speaking English or Spanish when this happens?

OP here. We're speaking english! This is the issue. I wouldn't refer to myself as Americano in Spanish.

And the Canadian calling himself American?? LOL North American, yes of course.

[Anonymous]

Once again - Why is this important?

[Anonymous]

Serves us right for having such an obnoxiously long country name that includes part of the name of our continent that we share with other countries.

While traveling abroad, I just say I'm from the U.S. when others ask me where I'm from.

[Anonymous]

Let's not be psycho-rigid here.

Can you agree, OP, that the term "American" to refer to US citizens is in common usage and is therefore acceptable to a majority of people around the world?

I can agree that the term might be considered offensive to other residents of the American continent, but let's be frank here: the most powerful nations on earth usually drive the development of language and customs in their domain of influence - which today comprises the whole world, with globalization and all. There was a time when French was the language of diplomacy because France was more powerful than the UK, Spain or the Netherlands. They got to name many things which are now integrated in the English language today. There will come a time when the dominant language will not be English anymore but something else, probably something Asian.

Language only makes sense when you see it as part of the global power game.

[Anonymous]

South American here who has lived in the USA for two decades. It boils down to how many continents there are. As you may or may not know, most people in the world are taught that there are 5 continents, with north and south America being a continent called America. (Antarctica is not considered a continent since it is inhabited). People in the USA and in a few more places are taught that there are 7 continents
Who is right? Arguments can be made either way.

The point is that Latin Americans think there are 5 continents, and someone from, say, Bolivia is American, as someone from the USA. This fact, as well as the perceived or actual arrogance / ethnocentrism from some/many people from the USA leads to the reaction you are describing.

Technically, the name "America" was first assigned in early 16 century maps to what is now the coast of Brazil. This fact, as well as the fact that most people in the world refer to America as the greater fifth continent, suggests that it is reasonable for people to be irked at the exclusivist use of the name by people in the USA. One could argue that people from the USA are one of the few poeple of the world without a internationally-agreed adjective for their nationality.

I don't mind at all if people call themselves American, since they are referring to their nationality and the word "America" is a formal part of their name. But, from a purely geographical (not nationality-based) perspective, American is anyone from the Americas.

[Anonymous]

I've encountered what OP describes as well -- it's a feeling among many citizens of other nations in the Americas that citizens of the US have coopted the term "American" to refer only to US citizens, when it properly describes everyone in the Americas. Calling it resentment is too strong -- it's more like it provokes an eye-roll?

The problem is, there is no other commonly used word to describe citizens of the US. I've seen some US citizens who are sensitive to this issue describe themselves as "USian" (pronounced "you-ess-ee-un"), but I don't think that's caught on outside very specific circles.

As this thread demonstrates, most people who call themselves American aren't aware that there's any controversy associated with the term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are splitting hairs. North American is accurate, but so is American.

OP here. When I refer to myself as "American" I am corrected often by Spanish speakers.

I'm not trying to split hairs.

Mexico is also the United States of Mexico, but no one refers to them (in Spanish) as United Statesers.

Are you speaking English or Spanish when this happens?

OP here. We're speaking english! This is the issue. I wouldn't refer to myself as Americano in Spanish.

And the Canadian calling himself American?? LOL North American, yes of course.

I would say that when you (plural you) are speaking English, the correct word is "American", and when you're speaking Spanish, the correct word is "estadounidense".

Especially since there is no continent called "America". The continents are North America and South America. People from Canada, the US, Mexico, and the countries in Central America are all North Americans. People from the countries in South America are South Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:South American here who has lived in the USA for two decades. It boils down to how many continents there are. As you may or may not know, most people in the world are taught that there are 5 continents, with north and south America being a continent called America. (Antarctica is not considered a continent since it is inhabited). People in the USA and in a few more places are taught that there are 7 continents
Who is right? Arguments can be made either way.

The point is that Latin Americans think there are 5 continents, and someone from, say, Bolivia is American, as someone from the USA. This fact, as well as the perceived or actual arrogance / ethnocentrism from some/many people from the USA leads to the reaction you are describing.

Technically, the name "America" was first assigned in early 16 century maps to what is now the coast of Brazil. This fact, as well as the fact that most people in the world refer to America as the greater fifth continent, suggests that it is reasonable for people to be irked at the exclusivist use of the name by people in the USA. One could argue that people from the USA are one of the few poeple of the world without a internationally-agreed adjective for their nationality.

I don't mind at all if people call themselves American, since they are referring to their nationality and the word "America" is a formal part of their name. But, from a purely geographical (not nationality-based) perspective, American is anyone from the Americas.

OP here. I have spoken Spanish since I was 5 and had no clue some people thought there were 5 continents! you learn something new daily!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are splitting hairs. North American is accurate, but so is American.

OP here. When I refer to myself as "American" I am corrected often by Spanish speakers.

I'm not trying to split hairs.

Mexico is also the United States of Mexico, but no one refers to them (in Spanish) as United Statesers.

Are you speaking English or Spanish when this happens?

OP here. We're speaking english! This is the issue. I wouldn't refer to myself as Americano in Spanish.

And the Canadian calling himself American?? LOL North American, yes of course.

I would say that when you (plural you) are speaking English, the correct word is "American", and when you're speaking Spanish, the correct word is "estadounidense".

Especially since there is no continent called "America". The continents are North America and South America. People from Canada, the US, Mexico, and the countries in Central America are all North Americans. People from the countries in South America are South Americans.

You have been taught that there is no continent called America. Most people in the world, and all Latin Americans, are taught differently.

[Anonymous]

[qu[b]ote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:South American here who has lived in the USA for two decades. It boils down to how many continents there are. As you may or may not know, most people in the world are taught that there are 5 continents, with north and south America being a continent called America. (Antarctica is not considered a continent since it is inhabited). People in the USA and in a few more places are taught that there are 7 continents
Who is right? Arguments can be made either way.

The point is that Latin Americans think there are 5 continents, and someone from, say, Bolivia is American, as someone from the USA. This fact, as well as the perceived or actual arrogance / ethnocentrism from some/many people from the USA leads to the reaction you are describing.

Technically, the name "America" was first assigned in early 16 century maps to what is now the coast of Brazil. This fact, as well as the fact that most people in the world refer to America as the greater fifth continent, suggests that it is reasonable for people to be irked at the exclusivist use of the name by people in the USA. One could argue that people from the USA are one of the few poeple of the world without a internationally-agreed adjective for their nationality.

I don't mind at all if people call themselves American, since they are referring to their nationality and the word "America" is a formal part of their name. But, from a purely geographical (not nationality-based) perspective, American is anyone from the Americas.

OP here. I have spoken Spanish since I was 5 and had no clue some people thought there were 5 continents! you learn something new daily!

MOST humans are taught there are 5 continents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[qu[b]ote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:South American here who has lived in the USA for two decades. It boils down to how many continents there are. As you may or may not know, most people in the world are taught that there are 5 continents, with north and south America being a continent called America. (Antarctica is not considered a continent since it is inhabited). People in the USA and in a few more places are taught that there are 7 continents
Who is right? Arguments can be made either way.

The point is that Latin Americans think there are 5 continents, and someone from, say, Bolivia is American, as someone from the USA. This fact, as well as the perceived or actual arrogance / ethnocentrism from some/many people from the USA leads to the reaction you are describing.

Technically, the name "America" was first assigned in early 16 century maps to what is now the coast of Brazil. This fact, as well as the fact that most people in the world refer to America as the greater fifth continent, suggests that it is reasonable for people to be irked at the exclusivist use of the name by people in the USA. One could argue that people from the USA are one of the few poeple of the world without a internationally-agreed adjective for their nationality.

I don't mind at all if people call themselves American, since they are referring to their nationality and the word "America" is a formal part of their name. But, from a purely geographical (not nationality-based) perspective, American is anyone from the Americas.

OP here. I have spoken Spanish since I was 5 and had no clue some people thought there were 5 continents! you learn something new daily!

MOST humans are taught there are 5 continents.

Really!?! Is this what Europeans are taught? I'm very curious now!