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French Canadians have their own series of hang-ups, every bit as numerous as those of English-speaking Canadians, but being mistaken or thought of as identical to Americans is not one of them!
United States of the America is the official name of the country but its easier to just say "America"
Saying "Im from the United States of America" takes too long and doesnt have a good ring to it.
Most just say "I'm from the United States" or "I'm from America"
Quote:
Originally Posted by KathrynAragon
When I'm overseas, it honestly never occurs to me to tell people, "I'm from America." Even saying it aloud right now sounds stupid. Most Americans I know (using the term as it's commonly used worldwide by US citizens and others) would say, "I'm from the States," or "I'm from the US." Or "I'm from Texas" or "California" or whatever.
It's usually the OTHER person, from the OTHER country that says, "Oh, you're AMERICAN."
In other words, it's a two way street - we're not the only people perpetrating that phrase - it's in common usage by people all over the world when describing someone from the United States of America.
Maybe it's because Canadians and Mexicans and other people from Central or South America don't have the word "America" in the formal name of their country. Anyone ever think of that possibility? It's the shortened version of the LONG name of our country.
I agree completely KathrynAragon. I don't say I am from America. I usually say that I am from the States or the US. And if they don't understand US then I say I am from the United States.
It is the other people saying oh you are from America. If I am in a country for a while and I know everyone refers to my country as America then yes I will start saying I am from America because that is what they call it. But I only say that when they look at me funny when I use the other terms.
iNviNciBL3 I don't think it sounds weird at all to say "I am from the United States" but just saying the States is shorter and what I use most of the time. In fact I learned it from people abroad.
I agree completely KathrynAragon. I don't say I am from America. I usually say that I am from the States or the US. And if they don't understand US then I say I am from the United States.
It is the other people saying oh you are from America. If I am in a country for a while and I know everyone refers to my country as America then yes I will start saying I am from America because that is what they call it. But I only say that when they look at me funny when I use the other terms.
iNviNciBL3 I don't think it sounds weird at all to say "I am from the United States" but just saying the States is shorter and what I use most of the time. In fact I learned it from people abroad.
Well, amen to this. Common sense CAN rear it's head around here!
When I'm overseas, it honestly never occurs to me to tell people, "I'm from America." Even saying it aloud right now sounds stupid. Most Americans I know (using the term as it's commonly used worldwide by US citizens and others) would say, "I'm from the States," or "I'm from the US." Or "I'm from Texas" or "California" or whatever.
It's usually the OTHER person, from the OTHER country that says, "Oh, you're AMERICAN."
In other words, it's a two way street - we're not the only people perpetrating that phrase - it's in common usage by people all over the world when describing someone from the United States of America.
Maybe it's because Canadians and Mexicans and other people from Central or South America don't have the word "America" in the formal name of their country. Anyone ever think of that possibility? It's the shortened version of the LONG name of our country.
The name 'United States' refers to a concept of 'federation', many states with self government and some degree of autonomy, that are then 'united'. Thus, this denomination is common amongst countries formed by a union of states, like Mexico - its official name is 'Estados Unidos Mexicanos' ('Mexican United States'). Brazil, which also follows this model, was until the 70s called officially 'United States of Brazil' (currently is 'Federative Republic of Brazil'). By analogy, it's reasonable to suppose that people from USA want to call his country as 'America', though it's improper. Germans use to call people from USA as 'US-amerikanisch'.
The name 'United States' refers to a concept of 'federation', many states with self government and some degree of autonomy, that are then 'united'. Thus, this denomination is common amongst countries formed by a union of states, like Mexico - its official name is 'Estados Unidos Mexicanos' ('Mexican United States'). Brazil, which also follows this model, was until the 70s called officially 'United States of Brazil' (currently is 'Federative Republic of Brazil'). By analogy, it's reasonable to suppose that people from USA want to call his country as 'America', though it's improper. Germans use to call people from USA as 'US-amerikanisch'.
LOL all I can tell you is what I said earlier - that we are the only country in North, South, or Central America with the word "America" in the official name of our country.
I used to live in Germany and still visit there fairly often. Germans generally call US citizens "Amerikaner" though sometimes they embellish that phrase as "Stupidische Amerikaner." They're such a warm, tolerant bunch, those crazy Germans!
LOL all I can tell you is what I said earlier - that we are the only country in North, South, or Central America with the word "America" in the official name of our country.
I used to live in Germany and still visit there fairly often. Germans generally call US citizens "Amerikaner" though sometimes they embellish that phrase as "Stupidische Amerikaner." They're such a warm, tolerant bunch, those crazy Germans!
As I'm not from USA (no, I don't mind calling people from USA as americans), I never heard how they actually call you, but at least the german and austrian media use often the word 'US-amerikanisch', or 'US-amerikaner' for people.
As I'm not from USA (no, I don't mind calling people from USA as americans), I never heard how they actually call you, but at least the german and austrian media use often the word 'US-amerikanisch', or 'US-amerikaner' for people.
This is a really funny article about the UNPOPULAR usage of the phrase "US - Amerikanisch:" - no title specified
I was curious so I googled the term. Actually I couldn't find a single example of the usage of the term by German or Austrian media, but I freely admit my search efforts could have been hampered by language barriers. If you can find examples, I'd sure like to see them.
Meanwhile, it was very interesting to read the translated version of the article in German Wiki about the US. Go check out the translation of the German Wiki stuff about the UK if you're interested. STRANGE.
@Kathryn. "US-Amerikanisch"/"US-Amerikaner" is only preferred by the intellectual left in Germany and Austria. Der Spiegel, rather left-of-center itself, uses it in some articles. Note that I'm more on the left myself, so this isn't a political tirade on my part. I'm glad the term has made such little progress in the German-speaking world.
@Kathryn. "US-Amerikanisch"/"US-Amerikaner" is only preferred by the intellectual left in Germany and Austria. Der Spiegel, rather left-of-center itself, uses it in some articles. Note that I'm more on the left myself, so this isn't a political tirade on my part. I'm glad the term has made such little progress in the German-speaking world.
Ein US-amerikanisch-chinesisches Expeditionsteam hat in einer menschenleeren Region des tibetischen Qinghai-Plateaus fast tausend freilebende Y"
There a quite a few others but mostly wiki articles and blogs, and interestingly if you use free translation.com and have it translate "US-amerikanisch" to english it translates it as " American". So the circle begins again
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They're such a warm, tolerant bunch, those crazy Germans!
