Is it rude to call an American?

Question

y*nk?
I always thought this was a term of endearment like limey, jock, paddy,taff.
How can we, Europeans, possibly distinguish between colloquialisms and insults if we are not allowed to raise the terms for explanation?

Limey=Englishman
Jock=Scotsman
Taff=Welshman
Paddy=Irishman

Gaby we Brits don't mind being called Brits.
But we Jocks would object to being called Limeys.

Maddy.do you find a quay on a paddy loch?

when i was a wee laddie, Irish lassies were nicknamed "colleens"

Answer 1

People are so touchy these days. I never know exactly how to refer to people anymore. For instance I don't know whether to say someone is black or African American, white or Caucasian, etc. I am of English/Polish/American Indian/German descent. I refer to myself as an American and I'm proud of it. Call me a Yank if you would like it wouldn't bother me one bit. I wish we could ask questions without the possibility of an insult. You are completely right, I was always taught the only wrong question is the one unasked.

Answer 2

The the revolutionary war, "Yankee" was a term used to describe the Americans by the Brits. It was supposed to be insulting, but of course the Americans liked it, which absolutely pissed the British off.

During the Civil War, "Yankee" was a term the Southerners gave the Northerners. After the North decimated the South, destroyed the infrastructure, burned the cities, etc., people in the south absolutely loathed the "damn Yankee". Although it ended almost 150 years ago, to this day, you do not want to call someone from the deep south a "Yankee". Ever. It was have almost the same connotation as someone calling a British or Dutch national a "Nazi".

Answer 3

During the Revolutionary War it was a derogatory term used against the colonials. The colonials sort of 'took over' the term and claimed it as their own.

Americans don't seem to mind the term coming from Europeans if it is used in an affectionate way. It seems to be a pet term, I guess. Of course, if it is said in an offensive manner, then it wouldn't matter what you called them. Body language alone would be enough to get the meaning.

Yankee, on the other hand, is a derogatory term for Americans in the northern states, used by Americans in the southern states. This one doesn't go back quite as far, back to the American Civil War. (Or, as some of my southern friends like to call it, the War of Northern Agression)

Either way, it's all in how you say it. Say it friendly and it'll be taken that way. We're not daft, you silly bugger.

Answer 4

I have always thought it a term of endearment but you have now got me thinking. If I am part Irish, that would make me part Paddy but that is an Irishman. What am I part being a woman? A part Paddyess, or part Paddylass, or part Paddylady or does that sound a bit Irish to you?

Of course Colleen - makes me sound like a lady - lovely I feel all warm and glowing now.

Answer 5

Yank is actually short for yankee.
It was an insult, back in the Revolutionary War, but colonists began using the term to empower themselves. The term came back into use during the Civil War as derogatory phrase the south used against the north... but it is again used as a 'term of endearment'.

Look at it this way; if it was insulting, kids wouldn't be singing it.

Yankee doodle went to town, riding on a pony. Stuck a noodle in his hat and called it macaroni...

Answer 6

For some Americans it raises old wounds that go back as far as the civil war, where - if I remember rightly, I'm British so I may have it slightly wrong - the Northerners were called Yankees and so the Southerners don't particularly care for it. It's always better to keep away from other nations' 'terms of endearment' just in case you find you've actually trodden on some toes ...

Answer 7

"Yank" or "Yankee" is what the southerners used to call the northerners, especially during the Civil War, at which time it was a derogatory term.

Some people in the south still use those terms to describe northerners, although it's not really derogatory anymore.

Generally, calling an American a "Yank" or "Yankee" isn't a big deal -- although the American in question might find it a bit strange if he/she is from a southern state such as Georgia or Alabama.

.

Answer 8

Maybe if we were discussing this back around the war between the north and the south. (the end of slavery). I wouldn't think so now. We really don't care. It's one of those things that we just brush off. A lot of people might not even recognize what you are speaking of. If you find someone who is offended by the term then I would think that they might be overly sensitive.

I guess it depends on how you use the term. If you make it sound negative then it might get personal. As far as just everyday speech or joking, I wouldn't see it as problem.

Answer 9

I would avoid the use of that term with most Americans, especially Southerners.

Its like being called a Brit if you are British.

Answer 10

My cousins from New Zealand and Australia call Americans "yanks" all the time. Doesn't bother me one bit. When they're ranting about Americans they say "bloody yanks" instead. That's the only time it could be considered offensive- although I don't get mad about it, they're just expressing themselves.

If you should run into an American who gets upset about the term, just tell them to stop being so full of themselves. :)