Is there a difference between a Yank and an American?

Answer 1

There most certainly is. Originally, a Yank (or yankee) referred to a northerner, as opposed to the confederates, who were southerners. But during the First World War, and again in the Second World War, Yank was a semi-affectionate term used to refer to US soldiers, and in the post war period, it was expanded to refer to all citizens of the USA.
An American, however, is someone who lives in America -- and America is not the same as the United States of America. Both Canada and Mexico are also located in North America, and can lay claim to the title North American, or American.

Answer 2

Not anymore. Yank used to be a northerner, but after WWI, we are all Yanks now. American is an odd word. Logically it should mean anyone from the Americas, but it doesn't and only fools argue the point. American means a person from the US, test it for yourself. Tell someone your girlfriend is American, do they assume she is from Mexico or Canada?
The only difference between Yank and American is that the former was once considered a pejorative, but is now how many of us consider ourselves.

Answer 3

The "Yanks" or Yankees were from the north. The rest of the Americans were from the Southern states. The American civil war united them. But, to this day, Southerners still do not like to be called "Yanks"

Answer 4

Just a nickname for an American, like Canuck for Canadien, Brit for British or English, etc. BTW, the term originated in the Revolutionary War, not the Civil War. The song "Yankee Doodle", was used by the British to mock the Americans, but the Americans adopted the song as sort of an anthem and henceforth, became known as Yankees. During the Civil War, the southern states distanced themselves from being Americans and referred to the Union Army soldiers as Yankees.

Now, by American, I'm assuming you mean from the USA. Yank does not refer to Canadiens, Mexicans or Central and Southern Americans.

Answer 5

Yea have 2 agree that it's from the American civil war and it refers to the northern american army soldiers which were called yankees or yank for short so yank and American are not technically the same.

Answer 6

The question seems to be answered but please do mention to "paul633uk", the beef and kidney pie eating englishman, with bad teeth about the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, WWI & WWII (bailed out by the Yanks), having an aircraft carrier sunk during the Falkland War by one Argentinian jet. They seem to get a bit pissed about that. About Yanks being pissed off about Viet Nam? Not as much as the South Vietnamese, who no longer have a country.

Answer 7

I am an American, and also a citizen of the USA.

The term Yankee existed long before the US Civil War, and was originally a derogatory term used by the Brits before and after we kicked them out.

I consider myself to be a Yank, and I have never found the term to be derogatory. I just think back to George M. Cohan's marvelous song, "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy".

Answer 8

Yanks are people in the north

Answer 9

Geez, Yank is short for Yankees. From the civil war? The northern states vs southern states in a battle over slavery, power and government? Yankees won.

Answer 10

Not really.
Yank is just a derogatory term for a collective group of americans, although it does seem to be used based on stereotypes.