Why "Americans" call the United States "America"?

Answer 1

Why do you call people who live in the United States, "Americans"?
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Answer 2

Short for United States of America, similar to Estados Unidos de Mexicanos being called Mexico by Mexicans. Or the Peoples Republic of China being called China. The Federal Democratic Rebublic of Ethiopia is called Ethiopia. Many countries have a long name that is shortened for convnience. "the United States of" is an adjective phrase modifying the noun "America." all of the previous answers make good points too.

Answer 3

I am an American or "American" as you say ;-). I once lived in Mexico and was asked the same question. It seems that many people are offended that we call ourselves Americans, when there are many other countries that make up the Americas.

This was my answer (somewhat similar to Mr O).

People from Russia call themselves Russians.
China... Chinese...
Japan... Japanese...
The United States of Mexico... Mexicans.

People from Mexico do not call themselves "estadounidenses" or "United Statesmen." This is what many people prefer that we refer to ourselves as. The truth is that we just have no other name. We are not calling ourselves "American" because we think that we are the only Americans. We are calling ourselves Americans because otherwise there is no other name. It is not selfish. We did not name our country. I do not think that it is appropriate to change the name. We are stuck with "American" and have no other options.

Answer 4

I would venture to say its because of the name of the country, United States of America, as in U.S.A.

Canadians come from Canada
Brazilians come from Brazil
Colombians come from Colombia
Haitians come from Haiti

This follows that Americans come from the United States of America. The US is dropped and you are left with Americans come from America. Even though its dropped, its understood that when you say you are American it means you come from the United States.

Let me ask you this, what happens if a Canadian says he's from America? He can say he's from North America. But if he told you that he's American then he's American-Canadian from the United States.

Answer 5

I know what mary is trying to get at: Hahaha...stupid americans. Anybody in North, South or Central america is american, not just those in the US.

WHATEVER!

It's just stupid semantics. It's the same reason we use to call native americans, indians. It was started by someone who didn't know better and as we become more PC, we change titles. Indians--> native americans, n-word---> coloreds---******--->blacks --->afro-american----> african-americans yadda yadda yadda. I don't see the american thing changing though. United States-ians or United States of Americans is just too much of a mouthful.

Answer 6

It's short for "The United States of America", like the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was called "Russia" for short. It just is (was).

To be totally honest? It's what I was indoctrinated to call it through social pressures and the American school system. I don't consider it to be a serious issue, since the continents weren't named America until the Florentine merchant and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci stepped into the picture.

As an adult, I call the country I live in the United States or U.S.; I don't really identify myself as an "American" -- I usually identify myself using my state of origin. Besides, calling one's self a "U.S.ian" doesn't roll off the tongue as well.

Hope this helped.

Answer 7

Our country is the United States of America. We dont like saying the whole thing. America is shorter and easier.

Answer 8

Because its a short term of the united states of america... and no

Answer 9

you obviously are unaware that the title of our country is "The United States of AMERICA"....just as England, Scotland, Wales, and N. Ireland make up the United Kingdom. You can come from one of these four regions which make up the UK. We can come from one of the fifty STATES, but these are not countries.... hence, the United States "of AMERICA"

Answer 10

Yea, they didn't think real well when they were coming up with the name of our country.... it's not really a name at all... the "United States"... that's more of just a discription. We ought to be glad that canada is partically communist, because if they decided that they too were a bunch of united states, we'd really be screwed.