US people: Have you ever considered stopping calling yourselves "Americans"...?

Question

I mean, since America is the whole continent, you know...

And if so, how do you think you should be called?

BTW, though I'm Latin American, I don't mean to attack you. I know you don't choose the name of your country. I was just wondering how much this idea is in your minds...

Of course you are Americans, but that's because you live in the American continent, not for living in the USA. You know what I mean...

BTW, Mexico is "the United States of Mexico"?

Answer 1

Ah! A question I've wanted to ask for a long time!

The only TRUE Americans are the indigenous people of North and South America. The use of the term “American” should be applied to those we now call aboriginal or native peoples.


We call People from Germany Germans, France French, Russia Russians, China Chinese and Peru Peruvians.….now what do we call the people who live in the USA and are not indigenous?

Yanks? United Statesers? Statees, Statians, Statemen? USers (users)?

I can think of some other names but will keep that to myself – a Canadian living in Canada.

Answer 2

1. the USA was the first sovereign nation in the Americas.
2. the USA is the only country with America in its name
3. no other nation in the Americas calls itself American as a nationality
4. the vast majority of people around the world, including even Latin American, think "citizen of the USA" when they hear "American" by default

Maybe then Latin Americans and non-American citizens should instead call themselves "continental Americans" or "americanos continentales" to avoid the confusion, esp. since this is a much rarer designation (by continental group, not even by continent, much less country). It would seem most would even describe themselves by *continent*, i.e. "North American" or "South American", which is of course what people do.

Answer 3

America is divided geographically into North America, Central America, Caribbean, and South America. Therefore, anyone from any American country is an "American", as someone from Croatia is a European, someone from Burma is an Asian or someone from Ethiopia is an African.

But politically, the term "American" has been sort of hijacked by the people of the U.S, calling themselves Americans as if America was their country. No ill-intention though, I think. It's just that they happen to have a rather silly, artificial name for they country; United States. So, how are they supposed to call themselves?? United Statians? That sounds even more ridiculous. So they have to make do with the term "Americans"....

Same happens with the brits, somehow. The official name of their country is United Kingdom, but no one says "hey, I'm a United Kingdomese!!". So they refer to themselves as "British", since the name of their island is Britain, which comes from "Britannia", the name given by the Romans and the one they inherited. The problem with the U.S Americans is that unlike Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, etc, no one ever gave them a name!!!

Answer 4

Look at it as being part of the greatest place on earth. Since the United States is part of the Americas and the most prominent country of all those contained in north and south America calling ourselves Americans seems only right. Whenever most people think of Americans they specifically look to those of the united states as filling that description. Members of other countries are called Brazilians,Mexicans etc so why would there be any confusion ??

Answer 5

I've considered it. I have met Canadians who were offended by the use of "American" to refer to myself. They rightly pointed out that they, like you and I, are also Americans. Indeed, everyone in the Western Hemisphere is technically American.

But the reason I think it was adopted and I also use it is because there are no suitable alternatives for a country called The United States of America. In Canada they reminded me that I'm from "the States." But to use that in the same context as "American" doesn't work. Would I be a USian? A UnitedStatesian? A Statese? What other alternative is there. It would be quite fascinating to see what alternatives other people coin.

Answer 6

I don't think most of us think about that a lot. It does seem sort of arrogant though, doesn't it? Realistically though, its not going to change. I mean, what are the alternatives, calling ourselves "North Americans to the South of Canada?" "United Statesians?"

One thing we get called a lot is "consumers" although that could apply to other countries as well. "People in the Only Democracy with No Health Care" or "People Who Go to War But Aren't Sure Why" are also possibilities, but just too long. Nope, we'll probably just stick with "Americans" (also pronounced "Murkins"), as illogical as that may seem to other denizens of the two American continents.

Answer 7

Well since the name of the country is United States of America we probably will always be called Americans...at least until name of country changes

Answer 8

The forefathers of our nation decided on the name and it is a good one. They made many great decisions when they created our laws and privileges of our great nation. Yes, that is our continent's name and we are the United States of America but it has been shortened over the years just as other words and phrases have. It is easier to say America/Americans instead of United Sates of America/ American of the U.S.. We are Americans and individually we usually say Texan, Califorian,etc as to our state of origin. But we are proud of our country and our freedom and the ability to help other countries when they are in trouble and the proof is in the fact that no country refuses to ask for our help.We could be called United Statesmen or United Statesan but it is done and every country knows who you mean when you say AMERICAN!

Answer 9

America is divided into North America and South America. Citizens of the USA are referred to as Americans. In general people living the North are referred to as North Americans which includes Mexicans, Canadians, etc. South Americans are Argentinians, brazilians, peruvians, etc.

Answer 10

NO...and North America is the "whole continent" and we are the United States of America..thus we are American's...what else would we call ourselves?