Why do international people always assume that Wales is in England when it's actually it's own country?

Question

Did you think it was in England?

Answer 1

I was born in Wales, lived in Chester & recently moved to Liverpool with work and discovered that Liverpool (England) was once the capital of North Wales.

Answer 2

My guess that it goes something like this:

'Great Britain,' 'United Kingdom,' = 'England' to a lot of people, and trumps 'Wales' = 'country' in people's (er, Americans'?) minds; sort of like it might be a province or something.

When I was small (_very_ small), I had some confusion over how Ireland was distinct from England, Scotland, and Wales. That was quickly sorted out in school, but whatever led to that confusion might still be around in some people's heads. And, I think way back then I also had a notion that Scotland was an island of its own; I have no idea what led to that -- though if that little delusion is common, it might say something interesting.

Well, maybe not that interesting -- Scotland's simply louder about being independent, and I don't think I had an atlas until I was at least four...

(this is from a Canadian, for what that's worth)

Answer 3

Because most other countries only see the UK not England, NI, Scotland, Wales separately. If, for example, was to send a letter to someone in Wales and I didn't put UK at the end, the post office would have problems with that from here in Spain. In some area in Spain, its worse, they see say Wales on the bottom, then write on Inglaterra ( England) so they know which box to put it into at the international sorting office

Answer 4

Primarily because Americans think England is the United Kingdom (to them Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are England).

Answer 5

It is really annoying to be thought of as English. I am Welsh and proud of it.
Some scholars say that the Welsh were the original inhabitants of Britain, until they were driven into what was to become Wales, by the Romans, Danes, Vikings, etc. Look at some place names in Scotland, Yorkshire, etc., they have a definite Welsh sound. Then, of course, the Victorians tried to ban the Welsh language and our Welshness.

May I, through your question, ask Dryheatda something?

Dryheatda......do you mean the State which joined the USA on 6th January, or 14th February, 1912? It would make a difference as New Mexico was first, followed by Arizona.

How's that for a Welsh girl?

Barbarasp is talking twaddle, sorry.

Answer 6

No, we know better.

It is a common misconception, outside the U.K.: some others are:

Confusing the U.K. with Great Britain. The latter does not include North Ireland.

The concept of Albion, Hibernia, and Caledonia. They are, respectively, England or Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland.

The name for Wales is Cymru.

My question now to you, is why we don't hear so much whining from the Cornish? But who ever talks about Cornwall? I suppose some could debate it's not England, or it's in England since Cornwall is no longer an autonomous or independent country.

Answer 7

Because most people assume england is an island and is governed from London and that Wales is a region of England, and when we get out conservative led English Pariiament based in Milton Keynes they wil be very nearly right.

Answer 8

no, Wales isn't a country- it's a region located in the nation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ask a Welshman what country they're from and they'll tell you 'the U.K.' But they'll tell you that they're also Welsh. Trust me, Wales IS NOT a country but a political entity (division, like a state) of the United Kingdom.

Answer 9

To be honest, geography is a subject that gets way too little attention these days.
Consider this. It has come to pass in the economic state of the world today that many young people either can't or won't spend money on travel, especially in the USA. It isn't as expensive for Europeans to travel through Europe for obvious reasons. On the other hand, there are many Americans that have never been out of the state they were born in.
I guess that means ignorance is the main reason why people don't know their geography.

Answer 10

Most Americains don't like to know too much about their own Country how the hell will they know others. I'm from Sheffield and I love Wales and the People your Brill.