If a Brazilian or Mexican who has never been to US says " I am American ". Is it right or wrong ?

Question

USA is not the only country in the continent America.

Answer 1

They're not technically wrong, just misleading. Although you are correct, it's commonly understood by people that "American" means from the United States. And the purpose of communication is to communicate.

Answer 2

Brazilians are more American than we here in the United States. The same with Mexicans. You really answered your own question. (I(f Brazilian or Mexican who has never been to US says "I am an American")
Look at at map of the world! I've been teaching this for several months! Canada is a part of North America. The United States is a part of North America. Then we have Central America. Further south is South America. It cannot be made any more clear!. These other people are just as American as are those in the United States.....in fact, moreso.
I am completely correct. Perhaps citizens of the United States should call themsleves "United Staters"...there would be no doubt as to where we come from. We live on the continent of North America, not America. We are a small country. The United States could well fit into the land mass of Africa .....Africa...another continent..

Answer 3

They are Brazilians and Mexicans! American is used as a term for the people of the United States of America. Canadians are Canadians, yet they reside on the American continent.

Answer 4

Answer me this, what Brazilian or Mexican do you know that would say "I'm an American"? Probably not one. If a Brazilian or mexican was traveling abroad and said they were American on their passports, they are gonna run into a whole lot of problems. When someone says they are American, what country is the first to pop into your mind. USA!!! This is how it has always been. Every country on the planet refers to us as Americans, just like every country in the world refers to people from Mexico as Mexicans, people from Brazil as Brazilians, Canada as Canadians, etc. I'm not understanding your point. Don't tell me we should be referred to as United Statesians, because if so, then Mexicans should be referred to United Statesians form the United States of Mexico. Or United Statesians from the United States of Brazil. Get my drift, that's old news and will never fly over. Get over it already. We are Americans from the country of USA, you don't like it, then leave, nobody is stopping you, not even border patrol.

Answer 5

There are three divisions of America-North, Central and South.
Being a Mexican they are Central Americans. Being a Brazilian is a South American. They certainly may call themselves an
American.

Answer 6

they are right. but everywhere in the world americans are refered to citizens of the united states. if a mexican or brazilian go to europe or any other continent and they claim to be americans people would just respond them with no you are not american you are mexican or brazilian.

ajkoolkats mexico is not a central american country. mexico is in north america.

Answer 7

Brazil and Mexico are both part of this hemisphere's continents which are collectively called the Americas (North and South). As a non-judgemental United States citizen, I have no problem with any citizens on our continents calling themselves "Americans." That includes Canadians, Panamanians, Uraguayans, Chilians, etc. Europe and Africa, for example, both contain a multitude of countries, yet the French, German, and Spanish are all "Europeans" and South Africans, Nigerians, and Ethiopians are all "Africans."

Good question.

Answer 8

No, they should call themselves Mexicans or Brazillians!! They are not true Americans!! That term goes to citizens of the United States of America

Answer 9

For your information, people in the US consider North America and South America as two separate continents, we don't consider Oceana as a separate continent. However to your question, yes they would be accurate, as long as they were not using it in the context that is commonly used in the United States. It drives one nuts, but that is the way it is here in the US. There is no term for a citizen of the United States, other than American that I know of in the US. It is unfortunate and is a big one to tackle. Good question.

Answer 10

The United States of Mexico is Mexico and the United States of America is 'America'.

There is no continent 'America', there is 'North America' And 'South America' and generically there is a region known as 'Latin America'.

However, they can call themselves Napolean for all I care. It doesn't buy them rights in this country, though.