Referring to people from USA as "American"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Latin Americans are taught that the continent called America is divided into three parts -- south, central (or "meso") and North America.

The funny thing is that, for South Americans, Mexico is part of Central America, while Mexicans are adamant that they belong to North America.

Mexico is part of North America.

[Anonymous]

Why does anyone expect the word "american" to mean the same in both english and spanish? Different languages, hence the different meanings attached to the same word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does anyone expect the word "american" to mean the same in both english and spanish? Different languages, hence the different meanings attached to the same word.

It does mean the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They know exactly what you mean when you say it. They are just trying to prove some ridiculous point that why are you guys allowed to call yourselves American when we all live in South and Central America. Because the word "America" IS NOT in your countries name. Well, Mexico has United States in their name. Okay, well let them call themselves the United Stateters if they want. Around the world it is understood that American = someone from someplace like DC not Quito, Ecuador.

I am a native speaker in Spanish and majored in it in Spanish.

American means USA in French too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latin Americans are taught that the continent called America is divided into three parts -- south, central (or "meso") and North America.

The funny thing is that, for South Americans, Mexico is part of Central America, while Mexicans are adamant that they belong to North America.

Mexico is part of North America.

I was thought the same thing. in the USA,. Still doesn't change the fact that AMERICA is in the US's name.

[Anonymous]

It's clear we're going to have to change our name, so we stop offending the delicate sensitivities of the other American countries. I'm ready for something prettier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a pet peeve of mine. American to describe a citizen of the USA is inaccurate. Perhaps specifying USA would be helpful.

+1

Canadians are Americans too. So is everyone else from this continent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does anyone expect the word "american" to mean the same in both english and spanish? Different languages, hence the different meanings attached to the same word.

It does mean the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They know exactly what you mean when you say it. They are just trying to prove some ridiculous point that why are you guys allowed to call yourselves American when we all live in South and Central America. Because the word "America" IS NOT in your countries name. Well, Mexico has United States in their name. Okay, well let them call themselves the United Stateters if they want. Around the world it is understood that American = someone from someplace like DC not Quito, Ecuador.

I am a native speaker in Spanish and majored in it in Spanish.

American means USA in French too.

I am a native Spanish speaker from Spain. There, we refer to people from the U.S. as "estadounidenses" to denote "from the United States." Not "Americans," or "americano/as."

"Americano/a" can mean from any country on the continent of America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a pet peeve of mine. American to describe a citizen of the USA is inaccurate. Perhaps specifying USA would be helpful.

+1

Canadians are Americans too. So is everyone else from this continent.

I'm positive that Canadians are taught they live in North America. They are North Americans not Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does anyone expect the word "american" to mean the same in both english and spanish? Different languages, hence the different meanings attached to the same word.

It does mean the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They know exactly what you mean when you say it. They are just trying to prove some ridiculous point that why are you guys allowed to call yourselves American when we all live in South and Central America. Because the word "America" IS NOT in your countries name. Well, Mexico has United States in their name. Okay, well let them call themselves the United Stateters if they want. Around the world it is understood that American = someone from someplace like DC not Quito, Ecuador.

I am a native speaker in Spanish and majored in it in Spanish.

American means USA in French too.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a pet peeve of mine. American to describe a citizen of the USA is inaccurate. Perhaps specifying USA would be helpful.

+1

Canadians are Americans too. So is everyone else from this continent.

Canadians are North Americans. Americans are also North Americans.

[Anonymous]

I took Spanish in college and we were taught people from the USA are americano or Americana. I've never heard anyone from Mexico or Canada or Argentina refer to themselves as American. When I go to Europe they refer to me as American. I live on the west coast and there are tons of Latinos here, all of whom refer to themselves as Latino or Mexican, Argentinian etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took Spanish in college and we were taught people from the USA are americano or Americana. I've never heard anyone from Mexico or Canada or Argentina refer to themselves as American. When I go to Europe they refer to me as American. I live on the west coast and there are tons of Latinos here, all of whom refer to themselves as Latino or Mexican, Argentinian etc.

You must have taken one semester of Spanish then. It's a very common thing that they get offended by USA= Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this important?

Its not important but often on this site people like to downplay national pride in favor of being a good world citizen. Americans - oops, I mean citizens of the United States - are entitled, boorish, fat, treat solders like heroes, need big houses, need big cars, etc, etc.


By-product of a liberal bias. Part of the plan to systematically attack all of the things that made the country great.



United States'er - just wow.

I am guessing that if you poll the seven billion people in the world and ask them who the american are, we are all pretty much on the same page. Canadians are not Americans and I am pretty sure they don't think they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a pet peeve of mine. American to describe a citizen of the USA is inaccurate. Perhaps specifying USA would be helpful.

+1

Canadians are Americans too. So is everyone else from this continent.

I'm positive that Canadians are taught they live in North America. They are North Americans not Americans.

They do live in North America, but they are Canadians. I don't think most Canadians go around calling themselves American -- they want people to know they are Canadian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

How do you know that "most people in the world", and all Latin Americans, are taught that the continents are Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and America?

Also, geologically and biogeographically it does not make sense to lump North America and South America into one continent.

We've already established that most people in Central and South America are taught that there are 5 continents. Excludes Antarctica and combines North and South America to just America.

Most of Europe is taught that there are 6 continents- again America, no North or South.

Now we know that doesn't equal most of the world yet.

I'd be interested to know how it's taught in Asian and African countries. My best guess would be the same way it's taught in England or France for most of those countries.