Why people refer America to US...?

Question

America is the whole continent ¿isn't? Not just the country of the US...cuz i'm venezuelan and always listen that people refer to America as the country but that ain't true! So why people say America to refer the country and not the Continent?

Answer 1

"King of the world" Arrogance!

People from the USA sitting in Paris often refer to the Parisians speaking French as "foreigners talking a foreign language!"

"America" is:
North America,
South America &
Central America.
.

Answer 2

You are right. People should say United States of America, but is just easier to say America. Normally North America or South America refers to the continents

Answer 3

Joe is partially right, people do say America so they avoid say the whole thing "United States of America", but there are some that just refer to U.S.A. as america just because that's what they think it is. Something I really hate is people asking me where I'm from (I'm from Peru) and then ask me how was it the first time I came to America? It bothers me that they don't know I'm American aswell, South America.
Either way, I don't really think they do it on purpose, but I just wish they would understand and accept the fact that Amercia is much more then The United States.

Note: South America and North America ARE NOT different contients. They are the same continent. See what I mean, please do some research before posting wrong answers.

Answer 4

We live in the North American continent so refer to ourselves as Americans. The US means United States because we are a very diverse country of peoples who are united by our government. America is our countries name.

Answer 5

I grew up in Germany and yes, when we referred to America, we automatically assumed it to be the US. It's still that way. They don't say I live in the US, but "I live in America." When making other reference, they usually add "South America or the Continent of America." It's wrong, but I don't have the answer. Possibly because the US is such a world power.

Answer 6

Sometimes, when people say America, they say it short for the United States of America.
Yes, it is also the continent, but I guess people refer much more to the country rather than the continent, so it's become the more popular option...

Answer 7

United States of AMERICA. I guess we just like to use America to denote the United States and North America for the continent.

Answer 8

Because the proper name of our country is "United States of America" and since that's a long name, people shorten it to "America".

You don't even live on our continent. You live on the continent of South America. What do you care?

Answer 9

It's easier to say America, not to mention the U.S is more widely advertised in the news and current events. When someone is refering to a country in South or Central America then they normally say the exact country that they're refering to.

Answer 10

Because they like their belly button too much! Most "Americans" don't even know where Canada is, or even Mexico, so they just plainly think, that they whole northern thing on the map, is their country!
And I am not joking! A few years ago, they were a survey that shows 76% of them could not place Canada on the map.
Also another thing, the people denomination that lived in the US are not called United statenians... But Americans, it is why they refer as America.

Answer 11

The United States of America is just a country in the continent of North America which includes Canada and Mexico. Venezula is one country in South America (which is another continent.)