How come people from the United States call themselves "Americans"?

Question

Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and the rest of South America are in the same continent "America". Why cant we call our selves americans? We do live in the same Continent? Right.

But North and South America are in the same continent. America.

I believed That for a long time (that North and South America are not in the same continent) but i was reading some geography books from other countries and only the Book from the USA says tha they are two separate continents. The rest of the world can´t be wrong?

Answer 1

Because of good marketing by Amerigo Vespucci, this has been called America almost from the beginning, after the Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci.

Vespucci knew Columbus, and even helped him prepare for his second and subsequent voyages to the New World. Vespucci himself is believed to have sailed to what is now Central and South America several times around 1500, just after Columbus's voyages.

It was Vespucci who decided that the so-called "New World" was, in fact, a new continent (Columbus had believed he had found a new route to Asia). He promoted the idea relative to South America, and even suggested that it be named in his honor. Eventually, the name became accepted, and applied to the entire "New World."

The name was in common usage before the American colonies began their push for independence.

Answer 2

There are only 3 countries in North America. Why don't you study your history and/or geography books and figure out which 3 those are. South America is NOT the same continent as North America. Here's a hint, Venezuela and Colombia are NOT in the same continent as Canada and Mexico. Then you can ask more informed questions and figure out what you want to be called, whichever country you are from.

Answer 3

I'm "American" -- from the United States. I think it's because we don't have an English word that means "from the United States" like the Spanish word "estadounidense." English does have words that mean "from" every other country in the world. Also, it might be because the United States of America is the most widely known American country world-wide. But I agree it doesn't make much sense and have wondered since I was little why we don't have a "special" name -- one that can ONLY apply to us -- for people from my country, when we do for people from every other country.

Answer 4

There is no "America" continent. There is a North American and South American continent.

Many countries around the world call the U.S. the name America.

Get used to it.

Answer 5

America was allegedly named after Amerigo Vespucci. He wrote the name on the map he made of the continent - before enough exploration was done to know what he was naming. Please see the website in the sources for more information.

As people needed to distinguish between different parts of North and South America, they named each place differently. Canada people called themselves Canadians. In the United States of America instead of calling ourselves Statesians, we started calling ourselves Americans.

I did not chose the name. I am well aware that this name is associated with the people's thinking they were superior to others in other countries. I do not know how far back in history the term Americans for the people of the United States goes, but I think it goes back before Our French and Indian War. (Early Colonial Era was not my field of study.)



I agree with you that everyone in America should be able to be called Americans.

Answer 6

Columbia and Canada are NOT on the same continent. The United States is the United States of America, hence why our culture's adjective is American, and the noun for people of our nation is American. Although, all people of the Americas are Americans, too, so we all get to be Americans, it's just that some Americans can say that their nationality is American.

Answer 7

Um...North and South America aren't the same continent. This area now "America" (or USA) was what became more internationally known first, so the rest just got named after it.


Does it matter? Canada is in North America

Answer 8

July 4, 1776 United States of AMERICA.
Read your own constitution and find out what to be called. If you are from South America, why do you think you are on the same continent as the USA?

Answer 9

Call yourself Napolean if you like.

Actually, we and Mexico and Canada are in North America and the other countries you name are in South America (two different continents).

But just as Mexico and Brazil don't call themselves the United States of Mexico or the United States of Brazil, typically, we call ourselves America. It is our name.

And just as I can call myself Brazilian or Mexican and it will make no difference to my immigration rights to Brazil or Mexico, you can call yourself American, and all it will get you is confusion from all of those people who mean the USA when they say 'America'.

That being said, knock yourself out.

Answer 10

America/Americas

In many parts of the world, America in the singular is commonly used as a name for the United States of America; however, (the) Americas (plural with s and generally with the definite article) is not and is invariably used to refer to the lands and regions of the Western hemisphere. Usage of America to also refer to this collectivity remains fairly common.

While many in the United States of America generally refer to the country as America and themselves as Americans, many people elsewhere in the Americas resent what they perceive as appropriation of the term in this context and, thus, this usage is frequently avoided. In Canada, their southern neighbor is seldom referred to as "America" with "the United States", "the U.S.", or (informally) "the States" used instead. English dictionaries and compendiums differ regarding usage and rendition.