Why people native from U.S. are get to called Americans? (living in, friendly)

[Pochbarone]

What comes to my concern is that the word "Americans", refers to much more than just the country "United States of America". There is Canada, the whole central and south America. The global adapted tag "he is American" is just mean towards the rest of the continent. Although it is the most powerful country in the American continent, I believe that this tag is wrong and discriminative and economical power should not be a distinction between countries. Ever since I was little, I always questioned my father, mother and friends in, why do the people living in the U.S.A. get to be called Americans and all the others are central or south Americans? From my point of view the tag is insolent and ignorant. What do you think? Please state your opinions and let this be a friendly and peaceful discussion.

[Mumof3]

Originally Posted by Pochbarone

What comes to my concern is that the word "Americans", refers to much more than just the country "United States of America". There is Canada, the whole central and south America. The global adapted tag "he is American" is just mean towards the rest of the continent. Although it is the most powerful country in the American continent, I believe that this tag is wrong and discriminative and economical power should not be a distinction between countries. Ever since I was little, I always questioned my father, mother and friends in, why do the people living in the U.S.A. get to be called Americans and all the others are central or south Americans? From my point of view the tag is insolent and ignorant. What do you think? Please state your opinions and let this be a friendly and peaceful discussion.

Well, hmmmm, that's an interesting perspective and one which I had never before considered - however, there are major holes in this argument of yours. It is of course geography - Canada for instance, they are called 'Canadians' and probably wouldn't have it any other way. Infact it's more advantageous to be known as Canadian when you are American and travelling in Europe for instance because of the bad rep. that Americans are getting over there because of the foreign policies of a certain President (don't like getting political but there you have it In Central and South America they are called 'Central Americans' and 'South Americans" of course if you want to be ultra correct when it comes to labeling people from the USA, you could just call them 'North Americans' if you prefer that.

I'm from the UK more specifically, England and I do sometimes refer to myself as 'English' rather than saying just 'British' as it is more precise you see. You must be aware that the UK is comprised of: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As I was not born in Scotland I would therefore never refer to myself as ' Scottish' or likewise with Wales and Northern Ireland despite the fact they they are all apart of the British Isles. So you see, it does just some down to geography!! That's my opinion anyway!!

[Voltaire]

Well, if we don't call people from the United States, "Americans", what do we call them? United Staters? United Statese? United Statish? Come on now, that's just stupid. People from the US are just called Americans, that's the way it is, the world is messed up, what can I say?

[dullnboring]

I had a Spanish teacher once who was born and bred in the U.S. who said something similar; how it was incredibly arrogant for one country in the whole continent to be referred to as "America" and its people "Americans". The irony is though, the majority of Latin Americans themselves, the ones who I suppose are the ones who should be offended, don't really care.

As Voltaire pointed out, while it does happen to overlap with the continent's name, it's also a matter of shortening "United States of AMERICA". It would be a mouthful to constantly refer to the U.S. AS "the United States of America" or as it's people as "United States of Americans", and the examples that Voltaire laid forth show that few other variations would make grammatical sense either. Just like during the days the of the U.S.S.R., they were referred to as "Soviets", not "United Soviet Socialist Republicans".

[Cornerguy1]

The term "United Statesians" just doesn't roll off the tongue, does it?

I can remember once crossing the border from Canada into the US with my US wife. The US Immigration officer asked what our citizenship was.

I replied that I was Canadian and that my wife was American.

"Do you mean she is an citizen of the United States, sir?", he asked. "After all, both our countries have the privelige of sharing the area known as North America."

A rather enlightened view, I thought.

[lolagranola]

When this was first pointed out to me, I was living in Europe. I felt defensive! But the more I thought about it, the more I thought it is a rather superior attitude to hold. Then I appreciated the expanded perspective.

But I also agree, it's the tag that works for us!

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by Pochbarone

What comes to my concern is that the word "Americans", refers to much more than just the country "United States of America". There is Canada, the whole central and south America. The global adapted tag "he is American" is just mean towards the rest of the continent. Although it is the most powerful country in the American continent, I believe that this tag is wrong and discriminative and economical power should not be a distinction between countries. Ever since I was little, I always questioned my father, mother and friends in, why do the people living in the U.S.A. get to be called Americans and all the others are central or south Americans? From my point of view the tag is insolent and ignorant. What do you think? Please state your opinions and let this be a friendly and peaceful discussion.

I don't think it is arrogant or superior at all. I'm not aware of any other countries that have the word "America" in their name.

Additionally, no one is stopping Venezuelans or Salvadorenos from calling themselves "American". Just because people from the U.S. refer to themselves as "Americans" doesn't mean they are prohibiting the rest of the western hemisphere from doing the same.

[mead]

Its not arrogant, we are the only country in this hemisphere that has America in its name. How else should we shorter what we call ourselves? I don't want to have to say "I am a citizen of the USA" everytime someone asks me where I am from. Just sayin "I'm an American," is must easier.

Furthermore this could apply to a large area of the world. Why are people in Germany called Germans? There are plenty of Germanic people living in Switzerland and Austria. Couldn't they also call themselves German if they wanted to?

[X-Greensboro Resident]

I have to agree with you guys, we are The United States of America, therefore, we are Americans as it is the last part of the name, how can you say anything else that's pronounced easier? It's just common sense and I don't think it's anything more like we're arrogant or are trying to take the continent. It is what it is. Anyone that gets offended by it is reading too much into it. Can anyone come up with another name that is not hard or awkward that rolls off the tongue easily?

[kettlepot]

The reason really is quite simple. We claimed the name first. The United States was the first independent country in the Americas, (1776), Haiti was the second in 1804, 28 years later. We named our country first and therefore dibsed the American moniker. You snooze, you lose.