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As a matter of fact, yes, quite often. As many of you can probably guess by glancing at my screen name, I am from Miami, I was born and raised here. Generally I don't really consider myself an American since I cannot really associate with mainstream American culture or any particular region such as the South, Midwest, etc., although technically I am because I was born here and have never lived anywhere else. I do like to think of myself as being Cuban though, since that's where my entire family is from and where my parents actually lived until 19 years ago, and I am very familiar with the culture, food, speech, etc.
Well, usually in the United States unless I say where I'm from people assume that I'm Puerto Rican or Mexican. If I say I'm from Miami I automatically become Cuban. I do look Hispanic; although I am lighter skinned than most other Latin Americans, I have black hair and brown eyes. So people usually get that part right. When I traveled to North Carolina everyone assumed we were Mexican. Now, I am in no way trying to say that this is indicative of the whole state, or even the area I went to. We were just outside of Asheville in the mountains and everyone who saw us asked if we were from Mexico. I guess maybe people over there don't really see any other Hispanic groups other than Mexicans, so it makes sense. Even one time when we were speaking in Spanish to each other ( not to be rude, it's just that we were with my grandparents and their English is not exactly up to par ) in this little souvenir store, the store owner actually exclaimed, "Wow! You guys can speak Mexican!?" That was rather embarrassing . When we were in New York everyone assumed we were Puerto Rican! I guess this one makes a little more sense since the cultures and accents are very similar. Must not be too many cubans up there.
I'd just give it a try if I were you and see what happens. Once at a party in Italy somebody who'd overheard me speaking Italian with a foreign accent started speaking to me in quite broken German (my German at the time wasn't much better) and after speaking for a couple of minutes he asked me what part of Germany I was from. I said I wasn't from the mainland but a little island off the northwest coast...and he still didn't work it out!
Where are you actually from?
I've purposely tried to trick people into thinking I was from various places, as I am a master with accents.. at work sometimes I put on a British accent and the customers actually think I'm British and I've had them guess specific parts of the UK.
I'd just give it a try if I were you and see what happens. Once at a party in Italy somebody who'd overheard me speaking Italian with a foreign accent started speaking to me in quite broken German (my German at the time wasn't much better) and after speaking for a couple of minutes he asked me what part of Germany I was from. I said I wasn't from the mainland but a little island off the northwest coast...and he still didn't work it out!
He may have thought you meant the Frisian islands.
Even one time when we were speaking in Spanish to each other ( not to be rude, it's just that we were with my grandparents and their English is not exactly up to par ) in this little souvenir store, the store owner actually exclaimed, "Wow! You guys can speak Mexican!?" That was rather embarrassing . When we were in New York everyone assumed we were Puerto Rican! I guess this one makes a little more sense since the cultures and accents are very similar. Must not be too many cubans up there.
If it makes you feel better, I used to work with a woman from Puerto Rico, and a girl who I worked with (who isn't all that bright) comes over to her and goes "Can you give me a translation into Mexican? I want to learn how to say this phrase but when I try and translate it online, the stupid translator gives me Spanish instead!!"
I've purposely tried to trick people into thinking I was from various places, as I am a master with accents.. at work sometimes I put on a British accent and the customers actually think I'm British and I've had them guess specific parts of the UK.
I'm from Yorkshire, in the northern part of England. I used to work in a call centre and to make the job slightly more interesting I used to put on fake accents sometimes. You say you're a master of accents, so how do you get on with this one then, a parody of a Yorkshireman working in London (which I culturally identify with greatly) ? A lot of people up there actually are like this guy!
I'm from Yorkshire, in the northern part of England. I used to work in a call centre and to make the job slightly more interesting I used to put on fake accents sometimes. You say you're a master of accents, so how do you get on with this one then, a parody of a Yorkshireman working in London (which I culturally identify with greatly) ? A lot of people up there actually are like this guy!
I am from Germany origninally but have lived in Wisconsin for quite a while so most people mistake me for an American. Apparently I even have somewhat of a Midwestern accent. Sometimes Americans recognize that something is "off" with my accent and think I am Canadian (no offense, dear friends up North, I love you!).
Most non-English natives think I am American.
As for my looks I am pretty much the average white/Caucaisian, so I could be from anywhere, Sweden, France, Germany...
I get mistaken for being either a Hispanic or Italian or Spanish--or occasionally other Mediteranean ethnicities.
I'm an American of European descent--my mother's family is 100 percent from Poland(great-grandparents immigrated here in the early part of the century), my father's family is a mix of mostly Irish(black Irish it seems), English, German, German, and Native American. I've got dark brown, almost black hair, am pretty short and have a generally olive complexion if I've gotten any sun--along with pretty sharp features. I also spent part of my childhood in Canada, so I almost have a Canadian accent when I pronounce some words.
When I travel to Europe, I've gotten mistaken for being Spanish on occasion. I speak French on a basic level, but I'm much more fluent in Spanish, so when I speak French--or attempt Italian, it almost sounds like I'm a Spanish-language speaker attempting other Romance languages. However, the funny part is that native Spanish speakers would recognize me immediately as not being from a Spanish-speaking region. But in general, I've gotten responses back in Spanish, when attempting a different language, in countries as diverse as Morocco and Croatia. I've been told I look Italian as well in Germany and France...
Interestingly enough, I rarely travel outside the country and have people assume I'm American, except for when I've been to Japan and Korea... But apparently, maybe because I'm short and swarthy and don't dress super casual when traveling, I'm never singled out as an American, more so I'm assumed to be from some European country. But when I travel I can spot some, but not all Americans from a mile away...
I'm Australian, parents Italian -- so I look Italian.
I've been asked if I am Italian/Spanish/Greek/Irish you name it. In the US many thought I was Hispanic...
With my accent, English & Irish, Sth African We sound quite different !
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I do look Hispanic; although I am lighter skinned than most other Latin Americans, I have black hair and brown eyes. So people usually get that part right. When I traveled to North Carolina everyone assumed we were Mexican. Now, I am in no way trying to say that this is indicative of the whole state, or even the area I went to. We were just outside of Asheville in the mountains and everyone who saw us asked if we were from Mexico. I guess maybe people over there don't really see any other Hispanic groups other than Mexicans, so it makes sense. Even one time when we were speaking in Spanish to each other ( not to be rude, it's just that we were with my grandparents and their English is not exactly up to par ) in this little souvenir store, the store owner actually exclaimed, "Wow! You guys can speak Mexican!?" That was rather embarrassing 
. When we were in New York everyone assumed we were Puerto Rican! I guess this one makes a little more sense since the cultures and accents are very similar. Must not be too many cubans up there.
) ? A lot of people up there actually are like this guy!
:
We sound quite different !
