Just curious - what do you say when ppl in foreign countries ask where you are from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The States. But then that's because I'm Canadian.

Earlier other Canadian. That is what we say too. The States. I've also heard many people say I am from the US or the USA. It would be extremely odd to me to say if we were crossing the border...we are going to America...as we are already in America (in Canada)..and America isn't a country.
And as you noticed - the Dane identified himself by country - he didn't say I'm from Europe (assuming you would know that meant Denmark!)

For me, I am not offended at all. I just find it funny that one identifies their country as being the continent or the continent as being one country. I am guessing there are many who in the US have no idea that they are not the only Americans (and many that do). It has become colloquial language because of the 'we are the only country that matters' perspective that someone from The States assumes that the name of the continent means their country. Substitute France/Europe or Japan/Asia for the US/America, and see how it sounds to you... it just sounds odd/funny but not offensive.

Sometimes if someone says they are from America, I will say oh me too...then they ask where, and I tell them and they get all confused!

See, that is where you have it wrong. We view the continent as "North America" (or South). "America" is not the continent; it is just shorthand for United States of America.

So what do you think of America in the United States of America refers to, if not the continent?

It refers to our continent, yes, but when we call ourselves America we are just abbreviating our name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The States. But then that's because I'm Canadian.

Earlier other Canadian. That is what we say too. The States. I've also heard many people say I am from the US or the USA. It would be extremely odd to me to say if we were crossing the border...we are going to America...as we are already in America (in Canada)..and America isn't a country.
And as you noticed - the Dane identified himself by country - he didn't say I'm from Europe (assuming you would know that meant Denmark!)

For me, I am not offended at all. I just find it funny that one identifies their country as being the continent or the continent as being one country. I am guessing there are many who in the US have no idea that they are not the only Americans (and many that do). It has become colloquial language because of the 'we are the only country that matters' perspective that someone from The States assumes that the name of the continent means their country. Substitute France/Europe or Japan/Asia for the US/America, and see how it sounds to you... it just sounds odd/funny but not offensive.
Sometimes if someone says they are from America, I will say oh me too...then they ask where, and I tell them and they get all confused!

See, that is where you have it wrong. We view the continent as "North America" (or South). "America" is not the continent; it is just shorthand for United States of America.

So what do you think of America in the United States of America refers to, if not the continent? Let me ask you this. I posted earlier, when you hear someone say something negative like "stupid Americans" do you think of the continent (and all its countries) or do you immediately think they are talking about the U.S. ?

[Anonymous]

Let me ask you this. I posted earlier, when you hear someone say something negative like "stupid Americans" do you think of the continent (and all its countries) or do you immediately think they are talking about the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me ask you this. I posted earlier, when you hear someone say something negative like "stupid Americans" do you think of the continent (and all its countries) or do you immediately think they are talking about the U.S.

Good or bad if the word American is used I assume they are talking about people from the USA simply because that is how they refer to themselves and all other American countries identify their nationality by their country rather than their continent. For some reason the term American doesn't strike me as odd as I'm from America. I think that is because there is no other word for the nationality (United Statesian??) where as there are many other terms for the name of the country...US, USA, The States etc... that allows one to avoid using the continent should they choose.

I am now curious...and don't have one at hand to look at...on the American passport, what does it say beside nationality? Does it say American? Officially I can't imagine American ever gets used as a nationality due to it not being a country. Maybe citizen of the United States of America?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Town of Chevy Chase.

[Anonymous]

The US passport says "United States of America" for nationality, also on front cover. It doesn't say "American" anywhere.

[Anonymous]

My family lives in France and I travel overseas a lot. I always just say Washington, DC. If I'm in a country where I don't want it to be known I'm from DC, I say "the States" or "the US"

I don't say America because in some counties it has lead to confusion. If you travel enough, you learn to use anime that translates best.

If you only travel to Europe etc., America is fine.

[Anonymous]

I say America or the U.S., depending on whom I talking to and the level of their English. Where's I've lived thus far, most people equate "America" with the "U.S." In fact, they (the locals) usually call the embassy "the American Embassy" as opposed to "the Embassy of the United States".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me ask you this. I posted earlier, when you hear someone say something negative like "stupid Americans" do you think of the continent (and all its countries) or do you immediately think they are talking about the U.S.

Good or bad if the word American is used I assume they are talking about people from the USA simply because that is how they refer to themselves and all other American countries identify their nationality by their country rather than their continent. For some reason the term American doesn't strike me as odd as I'm from America. I think that is because there is no other word for the nationality (United Statesian??) where as there are many other terms for the name of the country...US, USA, The States etc... that allows one to avoid using the continent should they choose.

I am now curious...and don't have one at hand to look at...on the American passport, what does it say beside nationality? Does it say American? Officially I can't imagine American ever gets used as a nationality due to it not being a country. Maybe citizen of the United States of America?

Why can't you imagine it? In french they ask you what;s your nationality and the answer is American. It diens't say American but Mexican's don't say I am from the United States of Mexico )that is the offical name) they say Mexican. People from the US would say American. Everyone know when you say American that you don't mean from Paraguay or Argentina.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me ask you this. I posted earlier, when you hear someone say something negative like "stupid Americans" do you think of the continent (and all its countries) or do you immediately think they are talking about the U.S.

Good or bad if the word American is used I assume they are talking about people from the USA simply because that is how they refer to themselves and all other American countries identify their nationality by their country rather than their continent. For some reason the term American doesn't strike me as odd as I'm from America. I think that is because there is no other word for the nationality (United Statesian??) where as there are many other terms for the name of the country...US, USA, The States etc... that allows one to avoid using the continent should they choose.

I am now curious...and don't have one at hand to look at...on the American passport, what does it say beside nationality? Does it say American? Officially I can't imagine American ever gets used as a nationality due to it not being a country. Maybe citizen of the United States of America?

Why can't you imagine it? In french they ask you what;s your nationality and the answer is American. It diens't say American but Mexican's don't say I am from the United States of Mexico )that is the offical name) they say Mexican. People from the US would say American. Everyone know when you say American that you don't mean from Paraguay or Argentina.

I am from Argentina and when I hear America, it makes me think of Canada all the way down to Argetina. If you go to Argentina and say you are American someone will reply I am from America also. This will be followed by where in America are you from..

It's a bit of a touchy subject since for some reason people from the US seem to think they are the only "Americans" ....

[Anonymous]

I am from Argentina and when I hear America, it makes me think of Canada all the way down to Argetina. If you go to Argentina and say you are American someone will reply I am from America also. This will be followed by where in America are you from..

It's a bit of a touchy subject since for some reason people from the US seem to think they are the only "Americans" ....[/

But we don't view the continent as "the Americas" As said before, we see the continents in our hemisphere as North America or South America.

We are just abbreviating our country name, as do many other countries:

People's Republic of China= China or Chinese (not Peoples Republicans)
The United Mexican States= Mexico (not Uniteds or Mexican States)
Republica Argentina = Argentina (Not Republica)
Federative Republic of Brazil = Brazil (Not Federative Republic or Federative Republicans)

I could go on and on. It is an abbreviation, just like many other countries abbreviate, including your country of Argentina.

[Anonymous]

Second what 1528 wrote. Also what others have noted about the fact that we have no equivalent to, say, Argentinian or Canadian or Mexican. United States-ian sounds weird and has way too many syllables, so we just modify the last part of our name - United States of America to come up with American. We're very well aware that there's a Canada, Central America and South America - many of our residents/citizens are from these countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Second what 1528 wrote. Also what others have noted about the fact that we have no equivalent to, say, Argentinian or Canadian or Mexican. United States-ian sounds weird and has way too many syllables, so we just modify the last part of our name - United States of America to come up with American. We're very well aware that there's a Canada, Central America and South America - many of our residents/citizens are from these countries.

correction: from this country and these two continents. Sorry, I'm feeding a fussy baby and typing at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me ask you this. I posted earlier, when you hear someone say something negative like "stupid Americans" do you think of the continent (and all its countries) or do you immediately think they are talking about the U.S.

Good or bad if the word American is used I assume they are talking about people from the USA simply because that is how they refer to themselves and all other American countries identify their nationality by their country rather than their continent. For some reason the term American doesn't strike me as odd as I'm from America. I think that is because there is no other word for the nationality (United Statesian??) where as there are many other terms for the name of the country...US, USA, The States etc... that allows one to avoid using the continent should they choose.

I am now curious...and don't have one at hand to look at...on the American passport, what does it say beside nationality? Does it say American? Officially I can't imagine American ever gets used as a nationality due to it not being a country. Maybe citizen of the United States of America?

Why can't you imagine it? In french they ask you what;s your nationality and the answer is American. It diens't say American but Mexican's don't say I am from the United States of Mexico )that is the offical name) they say Mexican. People from the US would say American. Everyone know when you say American that you don't mean from Paraguay or Argentina.

I am from Argentina and when I hear America, it makes me think of Canada all the way down to Argetina. If you go to Argentina and say you are American someone will reply I am from America also. This will be followed by where in America are you from..

It's a bit of a touchy subject since for some reason people from the US seem to think they are the only "Americans" ....

Yeah, but they are just being asses about it. They know what the hell you are talking about. I am from Chile. They get a big eye roll from me when they get so defensive. What America? This is America too! No, it isn't. It is in South America but the country is the Republic of Chile. America is nowhere in the name. NOWHERE. I always think- get over it.

[Anonymous]

I'm Canadian, and if asked where I'm from I would say that I'm originally from Canada, but now live in "the US"