Why do we call the US America?

[Bit]

I think it's because people in Europe were used to calling it "America" long before there were any independent countries here, and all the other countries took different names... but since we were already being called "America," when the official name became the United States of America people just continued to use the shorter "America" out of habit.

I also think that our government over the past couple hundred years has been rather... arrogant (Manifest Destiny, anyone?)... and has probably encouraged this. Certainly in modern times our media and popular entertainment industries have encouraged it.

[Rufusboi]

Why do people all over the world refer to those who reside in the United States of America as Americans? Why not refer to those residents as United Statesians? How do people in other countries of the continent of America refer to United Statesians, by the way? At least when they are trying to be polite?

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Rufusboi

Why do people all over the world refer to those who reside in the United States of America as Americans? Why not refer to those residents as United Statesians? How do people in other countries of the continent of America refer to United Statesians, by the way? At least when they are trying to be polite?

Everyone in the world does not refer to us as Americans.

I travel a lot, and many people do say Unites Stasians in their language, like Spanish for example.

Estados Unidenses in Spanish speaking South America, or Norte Americanos which does not say what country.

In Europe I hear US.

[Melissa]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

Everyone in the world does not refer to us as Americans.

I travel a lot, and many people do say Unites Stasians in their language, like Spanish for example.

Estados Unidenses in Spanish speaking South America, or Norte Americanos which does not say what country.

In Europe I hear US.

I'm from England and all I ever remember hearing is America and Americans, for the most part. The only time I heard any one refer to the US as "The States" was other Americans. But that's just my experience. I'm not as well travelled as you Although I do remember the French calling Americans....well, never mind. That's probably not repeatable. Melissa

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Melissa

I'm from England and all I ever remember hearing is America and Americans, for the most part. The only time I heard any one refer to the US as "The States" was other Americans. But that's just my experience. I'm not as well travelled as you Although I do remember the French calling Americans....well, never mind. That's probably not repeatable. Melissa

In London I usually hear US, but they seem to abreviate a lot! UK, US, EU and so forth....

And yes, I have only heard people from the US or Canada call the US "the States" and it is only from people who have lived outside the US.

[UofMfan]

In normal every day conversation I mostly call it "The States".

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by UofMfan

In normal every day conversation I mostly call it "The States".

I always have too, but a Brazilian friend busted me on it

[Semantics]

Originally Posted by Melissa

I'm from England and all I ever remember hearing is America and Americans, for the most part. The only time I heard any one refer to the US as "The States" was other Americans.

What do the people of England call us if not American?

Citizens of the United States of America?

If not Americans, what should we call ourselves?

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Semantics

What do the people of England call us if not American?

Citizens of the United States of America?

If not Americans, what should we call ourselves?

My friends in London say "from the US" or "Yanks" or Yankees which outside the US tends to mean all people from the US, not Southerners.

What should Argentines call themselves, or Mexicans, or Canadians, or Chileans? They are all Americans too.

[Melissa]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

My friends in London say "from the US" or "Yanks" or Yankees which outside the US tends to mean all people from the US, not Southerners.

What should Argentines call themselves, or Mexicans, or Canadians, or Chileans? They are all Americans too.

My Grandfather ---> Yanks, damn yanks, bloody yanks.......

[femmy1]

I am from Central America and the only way I ever heard the US referred to was..Los Estados Unidos... and it's residents were called gringos.. I know gringo is not liked or PC but I am just providing a reference.

I have never even thought of this place as anything but America but I can see why this subject could be thought of in all the ways it has been portrayed.

I will think about this because United Stasians just sounds wierd to me !! I like human haha. I like like a citizen of the world. An earthling.. lol !!

f1~

[Semantics]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

My friends in London say "from the US" or "Yanks" or Yankees which outside the US tends to mean all people from the US, not Southerners.

What should Argentines call themselves, or Mexicans, or Canadians, or Chileans? They are all Americans too.

I wasn't disagreeing.

I was just curious as to what her friends did call people from the US.

Mine always use "Yank"- but they also always use that tone and I'd really prefer to be called something else.

[Melissa]

Originally Posted by Semantics

What do the people of England call us if not American?

Citizens of the United States of America?

If not Americans, what should we call ourselves?

The people of England call you lots of things lol. But all I heard was America, Americans, Yanks. To us you are just dear old Americans. This brit apologizes for offending the citizens who reside in other parts of the continent of America and not in the particular part also known as The United States. Although if Texas secedes what do we call you all then. The United (Minus Texas) States. I love Texas by the way. It is is own little country. I think I was a Texan in a former life.

Mel

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Melissa

The people of England call you lots of things lol. But all I heard was America, Americans, Yanks. To us you are just dear old Americans. This brit apologizes for offending the citizens who reside in other parts of the continent of America and not in the particular part also known as The United States. Although if Texas secedes what do we call you all then. The United (Minus Texas) States. I love Texas by the way. It is is own little country. I think I was a Texan in a former life.

Mel

What a lovely answer! Thank you!

I usually say Brits, or from the UK, or English, Scottish and so forth for you.

[UofMfan]

"I think it's because people in Europe were used to calling it "America" long before there were any independent countries here"

I am sorry, but I take offense to this part of your post. Where exactly is here?

And when Europeans called it America they were referring to the continent, not the US. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerigo_Vespucci

[suebee]

On "American" sites I use the term American for brevity and to simplify things. I've used the term "United Statsians" for a couple of decades now. What little I've heard has led me to believe it's a much bigger deal in South America than in North America. Canada is a pretty easy-going country. We don't get riled up about the smaller things in life, but I don't believe that the term "American" should apply to only people from the United States. Not a BIG deal, just a little one, but yes - I do believe that there are a multitude of little deals that give the world the impression that the United States is arrogant. Not necessarily individual people, but the country as a whole.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by cybersuebee

On "American" sites I use the term American for brevity and to simplify things. I've used the term "United Statsians" for a couple of decades now. What little I've heard has led me to believe it's a much bigger deal in South America than in North America. Canada is a pretty easy-going country. We don't get riled up about the smaller things in life, but I don't believe that the term "American" should apply to only people from the United States. Not a BIG deal, just a little one, but yes - I do believe that there are a multitude of little deals that give the world the impression that the United States is arrogant. Not necessarily individual people, but the country as a whole.

So, South American's are uptight for resenting US citizens feeling like we deserve to be the only American's?

Mexico is kind of in North America too.

[suebee]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

So, South American's are uptight for resenting US citizens feeling like we deserve to be the only American's?

Mexico is kind of in North America too.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. I don't know about Mexico so I didn't speak about it.

[UofMfan]

I suppose we South Americans are just uptight and picky about accuracy. I have also encountered this from people in Central America, by the way.

Apocalipstic, yes, before they we had revolutions and became independent and individual countries.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by UofMfan

I suppose we South Americans are just uptight and picky about accuracy. I have also encountered this from people in Central America, by the way.

Apocalipstic, yes, before they we had revolutions and became independent and individual countries.

Before San Martin and Bolivar!

We are all Americans South, Central and North.

I think it is important that when we are speaking of the US in particular we say US.

It seems pretty racist, classist and arrogant to say otherwise.