Why is the United States called "America" when it is part of America not the actual continent?

Question

My question is that for example, we don't call Spain Europe even though it is a prominent country in that continent. Why would we call the US America if it is only, like Spain, a prominent country in the continent?

Answer 1

i was just thinking that the other day, and everyone laughed at me, so good point, im glad im not the only nut out there

Answer 2

i'm glad you brought that up. i have always said the same. America is a continent, and for the rest of the world, there is no south, north, or central America, just the American continent. In US textbooks at schools, it says the world has seven to eight continents whereas in the rest of the world's text books it says the world has five continents. When i refer to this country i call it the US and i think it is very selfish that some (if not all) the US citizens call themselves American when in fact all Canadians, Mexicans, Guatemalans, Perubians, Brazilians, etc. are Americans due to the fact that their birth country is in the American continent. Then to this arguement some ask me "what should we call ourselves then, United Statians?" and i say just say that you are a US citizen. A little history: the American continent was called such because it was mapped a long time ago by a man of the name Americo Bespuzio (not sure about spelling) and he decided to call the big chunk of land that we live in America. Then the 13 US Colonies were formed and since that was the only civilized area on that side of Europe, the colonists simply referred to it as America (meaning the continent not a country). United States OF America means that it is a country of fifty states united under one flag presiding in the American continent. Another factoid: the official name of Mexico translated into English is Mexican United States of America. Not anyone in Mexico calls the country as such but the name explains what and why the country is such. This is just another way for most of the US to be against the rest of the world. We are the only country that uses the English measuring system, Farenheit and not Celcius for temperature, only country to believe that there are seven to eight continents, and so on...

Answer 3

America is short for the United States of America and we are called Americans. But then again, someone from South America or Central America, are Americans too, just as we are. This continent that we live on is the American Continent. I hope this made it a little more clear for you. It can be confusing, especially when Americans travel to other countries.

Answer 4

"America" is just a shortened version of United States of America. If you look through various news archives, you will see the United States of America shortened to US, USA, United States, America, US of A, the States, and other variations. If Spain was called Spain of Europe or some other name like that, then we probably would shorten it to Europe. So, the United States is called America because it's quicker.

Answer 5

It is all apart of a topic where the most of the people that need to talk about and can make changes seldom do so. It part of the Racism package.
The use of the name America is only one of many. For example: Even now the NBA World championship game is on, but what other nations are playing? Or most Americas going overseas don’t want to called foreigners but tourist, or the laws are set to have Europeans come into USA without visa but Mexicans no… they are illegal. When was the last time you heard a Canadian referred to as an illegal immigrant? Not to add a concept held by many that Mexico is South America….. I don’t think I need to say more……..

You make a start by saying, USA or US
My questions and staments does not make United States of America yet to me the best.

Answer 6

It is only referred to as America because it has America in the name. It's just the way we learned to call it. It's not wrong to call it "The United States".
We don't call the US "America" only because it's the prominent country in the continent.

"The Americas" refer to both Continents.

Answer 7

well we dont call the United States America actually, some ppl do but not all of us do. we are the united states of america, and the center of the continent, and we pretty much run the entire continent if u look at it, i mean we control trade and immigration in both mexico and canada, we are America, both north and south. think about it then message back, K?

Answer 8

America refers to all the Americas, North, Central and South. The United States is Central America.

Answer 9

Because the United States think that they are too important to only be called North Americans. they feel the need to be only Americans.when All the people from the continent of America are Americans too.

Answer 10

The name of this country is "The United States of America". We shorten it to USA, US or America.

Similar to the United Kingdom being known as England or Britain.

It can be confusing, but it is understandable if you think about it.

Good question!

BTW - It was named by Amerigo Vespucci. Also, the continent is North America. Canadians are not Americans. Mexicans are not Americans. Brazilians live in South America, but I am certain they prefer to be called Brazilians, not South Americans. XD

Answer 11

It is called the United States of America. We are the most prominent nation on the American continents, I suppose, and our soldiers who go to Europe routinely to die in wars to protect them from themselves are called Americans by the people who are grateful to be liberated. Maybe that is where it came from. As in, the dudes who come from overseas to our blessed Europe.

It is easier to say "Americans" than "USA-ers." What would you like to call us? Got a better idea? I agree that it isn't really all that on point to call us Americans. Yanks or Yankees is another term.