What do Americans call the United Kingdom, 'England'. Isn't that rather ignorant?

Question

Hey all. I live near the city of York in north- east England. It's popular with tourists and I'm forever hearing them call the UK 'England'. So i just wanna clear some things up:

Our country is called 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' or the UK for shor,t although many of us also say 'Great Britain'.

Okay so what does that mean? Well it is a unification of two countries with Great Britain being a unification of three countries itself. These three countries are England, Scotland and Wales. In the early 1900's they joined with Northern Ireland to form the United Kingdom.

It's easy to understand so why do you Yanks get it wrong?

Answer 1

Last time I checked York is in England. What's your point?

Just because it's also in the UK, doesn't mean it's wrong to say it's in England too.

Answer 2

Perhaps its the same stupid reason for calling US citizens Americans... Everyone is ignorant that America consists of two continents (North & South) not a country. Yet people call individuals from the US, Americans... I like Yanks... But that also creates problems since in the US Civil War, northerners were called Yanks and southerners were Johny Reb... or Rebs... So why England? Because when we grow up learnign US history we talk about England not the UK... UK is a term that comes much later but by then we just think of the British Isles as England. Hard to end that slip of the tongue , just like it's hard to be called a United Statesian instead of American!

Answer 3

Being Welsh, I really don't like Great Britain or the UK being called England... because the UK isn't just about England.

It isn't because of the English people.. well, some English people, anyway, it's because there is much more to the island than England.

And it isn't only the Americans who say England to refer to the UK or Britain. It is used in many languages such as Russian and French and German, etc.. and when I speak them, I avoid the term England like the plague. I use Britain, Great Britain or the UK when referring to the country. Or I use the specific country I talk about, but never England to refer generally.

But I guess that Oianzinho is right in saying that American refers to all of the American continents. But, apart from Yanks, what is another way of refering to them? United States of Americans?

Answer 4

Perhaps because they know the language they speak is a variation of English, so the name England is quick to recall & rolls off the tongue.
They may not know of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or recall their names as quickly, in much the same way as it would take me a few seconds to start naming states of the USA and I don't know them all.
We live in the UK so to us we are significant, but we are only small countries in a big world.
Anyhow I wouldn't get hung up on this misuse of names- give it a 100 years and England, Scotland, Wales & [Northern] Ireland will all be member states of the European Union, we would have lost most of our national identities through devolution of power, globalisation, mass immigration & emmigration.

PS. We are unified in many ways (at the moment) but England still exists as a country in it's own right.

Answer 5

it was once called England, so it is not completely random. Also most maps label it England. Most people who live there are also called "English" or "British" not, "unitedkingdomans"

Perhaps the island is called England.

There is ignorance in the world i guess, but calling someone a "Yank" implies that they are
1. from America, im sure it's not only Americans who make the mistake.
2. from NORTHERN parts of America, I'm sure people in the South also make that mistake.

1900s isnt that long ago, I can see why you could be upset, but it may have been passed down from generations.

I know people who live in London, and when they visited they called it England.

Answer 6

Because lots of countries go by more than one name. The U.S.A., the States, even "America", even though America is really a huge land mass comprising two continents.

Probably also has a lot to do with the fact that England is the one in control, among England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

I've met a bunch of Brits who say they are from "England" as well. They are always from England. Another thing is that if they say they are from the U.K., then they've either moved around or they are from England! As a son of the Celts, I can say I have observed with pride that no self-respecting Scotsman or Northern Irishman says, "I'm from the U.K."! They say "I'm from Scotland" or "Northern Ireland" every time.
I understand; I always say "I'm from Montana."

When most Americans casually say England it is to refer to the whole nation -- i.e. most Americans would never go to Scotland and say that they are in England, even though they are in the U.K., which they casually call England. It would be more like a "So is my Leatherman legal in England?" or "England supported US in Iraq" kind of thing.

I got used to being called a Yank in other countries, even though I'm from Montana and further away from Yankeeland than you are from Istanbul! And York, if you will permit an Ignorant Yank to remind you, IS in England anyway!

So I'll tell you what: Stop calling us Yanks unless we are from the Northeast, or "Americans" unless you plan to include Argentines and Canadians as well, and we'll stop saying "England" in reference to the entire U.K. as a geopolitical entity.

Answer 7

For many Americans and for related historical reasons; England represents the "old world" from hence many Americans derive their language, culture and European philosophy on. I agree with you that the concept of the "UK" is not a complicated one. However, I would tender that their equating England with the UK is just the Americans quicky way of referencing what they mean to be Great Britian. I feel the Americans have a stronger sense of what England, Scotland and Ireland are then what the UK is - again, purely because thru' geneological reasons.

Answer 8

Why do you care? Is it hurting you physically? You're getting it wrong by calling all Americans Yanks. There are the northern states which are Yankees but the South are Southerners or Rebels, people from out west are westerners. Get it together first before you start accusing. You are the first unpleasant Brit I have come across. So are you cleared up about the differences in America?

Answer 9

It's not just the Americans that do that (in fact many Yanks call the UK, Britain and refer to the British). I speak Spanish and Portuguese and you will find that there is only one commonly understood word for the Island of Britain-Inglaterra-trying to explain that there are more parts than that gets met with a blank look. One of the funniest things I ever saw was a Scottish girl trying to explain this to a Brazilian!

Answer 10

the whole yank arugement is really a bit different. they can not be used in the same arguement.



confusing the uk with england is confusing a physical entity. its on a map, u can look it up. its offical. its physical geography.

whereas with 'yank' , its kinda a nickname i guess for a group of people, a similar arugement in the uk would be calling a Scotsman a 'pom'


i must admitt it is a bit confusing, as england, wales, scotland and n.ireland are individual countries, but then also joined. but i think tourist just say wat country theyre in. do u know for sure that they actually think the UK is england...? i dont think so thats a bit stupid......