Why do you say americans to people from USA?
 

I don't want to generate problems but:

Why do you say "americans" to people from USA?

I am from Argentina and I hate when I hear people calling american to a USA person because people from Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brasil, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, etc, are also "americans".

I propose to call them US people.

Good bye and thanks for reading my post :-)

Guilty! Thinking now................

Troll.

I don't know if this is a "troll" or not but I have heard the same complaint from Mexicans, Costa Ricans and Brazilians, to name but a few.

Guilty as charged - But US-ians just doesn't have a good ring to it!

Mmmm. it's not a troll.

US people are not "more americans" than people from South and Central America.

well, if you hate it don't do it. I know people from South and Central America (several countries) and they don't want to be called Americans, I'm surprised you do.

Why does one say that? Because it's just historical custom, and a shortening of the full name of the country, is that difficult to understand? The name of the country is United States of America. It isn't because that is also part of the continent's name. I know people from Central America who routinely call Americans that in Spanish (americanos), even when speaking in their own language to each other, in reference to them, not because anyone is making them or because any are even nearby. They would never use that term to refer to a Cuban. I have friends from Peru and Uruguay and neither would ever refer to themself as an "American". Do you refer to Mexicans as US people since the name of their country is offically United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos?)

Because we are popular?

Because when anyone hear "America" no one thinks "Honduras"?

Yes Cristina. Most of people from South and Central America call them "americanos" but it is WRONG.

When I ask them why they call americanos they look at me a few seconds and say: I don't know...

We are loosing more identity. It's like if I call european to people from the England.

I have considered this issue. When I was asked my nationality while in Italy, I always said "US", although that sounds awkward. Of course, "American" would have given the same result; what they really wanted to know is if we were from an EU country (thus, entitling our kids to a student discount); they didn't care if we were from Costa Rica or Chile or the US - still no discount.

I've also heard us called "norteamericanos" - which is still incorrect since both Canada and Mexico are part of North America.

Aren't you proud to say you're Argentinian?

Christina: what I only want is to call them US-ians or US people or something else but not americans because we are aaall americans (north, central and south).

They are from US, America. I'm from Argentina, America. It's easy...

I'm Spanish...I call American everyone when I want to refer to the whole continent...the same I do with Europeans (including UK and Ireland!!).
So, I am european and spanish, I can't see the problem. Maybe the english language is the problem..we have a name for the US people in spanish "estadounidenses" :)

Come to think of it, I also remember that when crossing into the USA from Mexico, when the customs agents ask where you are from, they want you to say "USA" not "America".

Of course I am very very proud

hernan -
I think that if you were from the USA, you would not want to be called "US-ian". It sounds pretty goofy.

(Speaking as one from the USA.)
Linda

Yes Kenderina, may be a part of the problem is the english language but not at all. Here are people that call "americanos" to US people.

I think this is part of the imperialist politics that they instaled in all over the continent.

Good question. This has been discussed before on another thread.

They: Where are you from?
I: USA
They: Ah, America. Where?
I: Washington State
They: Ah, Washington DC
I: No, Washington State. Seattle. Bill Gates.
They: Ah (as they look away with boredom)
I: I grew up three hours south of Vancouver.
They: Ah, Vancouver Canada. Beautiful.

It's a no-win situation. And I still don't know why they associate "America" with the USA only.

I just asked my Colombian co-worker what the people of her country call persons born in the USA and she said "gringos".

Now I don't know if I prefer "US-ian" or "gringa". Both are pretty goofy!