America is a continent or two, not a country, right?

Question

The word America describes more than one country. Is this a minority opinion? How come everybody skips the misnomer?

Answer 1

I was in a 3rd world country and a lady asked where I was from. I replied "America" and she said "Oh, you're from Brazil?".Apparently America is two continents.

Answer 2

North America is a continent that is made up of 3 countries:Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. In the news or on T.V. you may hear people say "America", but they are talking about the United States only. North America and America describes two different things even though they sound so much alike.

Answer 3

America refers to North America
Central America
and South America

Answer 4

America is a nickname for the United States, as well as the New World. America includes both of these, but when America is said, it generally means only the United States, unless expressed as North or South America.

Answer 5

The word "America" does indeed describe more than a country. The original usage of the word referenced both North and South America. However, citizens of nations other than the United States tend to refer themselves by their specific nationality rather than as Americans, even though anyone living in the Western Hemisphere can technically be called an American. I personally think the idea of "Mexican-American," "Cuban-American," etc. is ludicrous, since if someone is a native of Mexico (or Cuba, Brazil, etc.) he/she is automatically an American.

Answer 6

Well there is a North America and a South America. You can use the term "American" to describe all citizens there, but I think people would be confused. Mostly it is simply used in reference to the United States of America, since the English language lacks a clearer word that means "united states-ian".

It can certainly have multiple or ambiguous meanings. So its all of the above.

Answer 7

Well......technically America refers to North American and South America. However, for the most part when people talk about America - they are talking about the U.S. Kind of like when people talk about New York they are usually referring to New York City, even though NYC is just part of the state of New York.

Answer 8

"America" is a country.

"The Americas" refers to a geographical or continental region of several countries.

Answer 9

america is a continent and i still believe some americans are living there,very multi-cultural