Even when we stated on our home page that this site is not about demonyms, because of popular demand, we are forced to clarify on this issue.
What is Demonyms?
A demonym is a name given to natives or residents of a certain or specific place. The term gentilic was used previously but is now uncommon.
A demonym is usually, but not always, derived from the name of a place.
So what about the people from the United States?
It's wide known that many people use the term American to refer to the people from the United States of America, hence overlapping the demonyms of the inhabitants of the continent of America (remember that America is one whole continent with three sub continents) with the inhabitants of the country.
So many scholars have proposed the use of many terms to solve this misuse: US American and Unitedstatesian and USian among others.
We strongly believe that US American is a fair demonym for the people of the United States of America; fair for them and fair for the continent inhabitants.
Add Comment
These terms and conditions contain rules about posting comments. By submitting a comment, you are declaring that you agree with these rules:
- Although the administrator will attempt to moderate comments, it is impossible for every comment to have been moderated at any given time.
- You acknowledge that all comments express the views and opinions of the original author and not those of the administrator.
- You agree not to post any material which is knowingly false, obscene, hateful, threatening, harassing or invasive of a person's privacy.
- The administrator has the right to edit, move or remove any comment for any reason and without notice.
Failure to comply with these rules may result in being banned from submitting further comments.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time and without notice.
Comments (42)
The Americas are not 1 continent divided into regions. They are arguably much more separate and distinct than Europe and Asia. One of them may as well be called vespucciland. Then at least most of the latinos would get over ‘USA is claiming our continent’ BS. It’s called the AmericaS because there are two of them. You are either North American or South American in English - problem solved, stop trying to reinvent the wheel!
All ‘the Americas’ together form the whole AMERICA in English whether you like it or not.
USA is claiming the words America and American all to themself.
What you said is just an excuse and I am not respecting USA’s English speaking world. Their way of English is so not cool and they get an ‘F -’ on their report card!
You’re wrong. The whole English speaking world calls them Americans, including Canadians. And whether you like it or not it’s commonly referred to as ‘the Americas’. I can’t believe you speak English and don’t know that. They’re only both called America because they were discovered around the same time and were thought to be one mass. If you’re Canadian, you’re North American. What is your issue? “Boo Hoo, I want to be called American, but there is already a term for me.” Wow it must really be such a bane in your life to have to suffer that insult. Your whining is not going to change anything.
I’M NOT WRONG. You are the one who is wrong. I am not whining.
I am NOT ONLY North American, I am American as well. Your English is Terrible.
I am NEVER referring to the country of United States only whenever the words America and American are coming out of my mouth.
I’m calling my country Canada of America!
Neither North America and South America would exist without America … which sucks for you! In fact, I don’t care if they are 2 separated continents or are apart of 1 continent.
Your English culture is NOT going to change anything. Too bad so sad!
actually, the USA is not America and americans are not the same as people from the USA. Guyana and Belize consider America as 1 continent.
“I want 300 million people to change their demonym just so I can call myself American instead of North American” sounds pretty pointless and egotistical. Good luck with that which will never change.
Good luck with your stupidity “Wiki” which will need to change and stop happening.
It is really “300 million USA people will have to change their inappropriate demonym “American” to their appropriate demonym “United Statesian” for their nationality just so it can drain down all the confusion away for the demonym American and its official definition being “a resident or something related to the 1 continent OR 2 continents of America 🌎 (The New World)”.
Therefore, American is 1 of my Demonym Identifiers being as my country is a part of America (NOT USA)! All-in-All: I have my own personal right to call myself “American” as well as “North American” and all ways that explains where “my exact location” is on Planet Earth!
Good luck with trying to take away my American identity, which will never change.
while the english language doesn't have much in store, romance languages usually have a demonym from the name of the united states itself, while the german language uses US-Amerikaner and US-Amerikanisch (literally US-American)
I am United Statian, and you?
Also United Statian
Coutry: "The United States of America"
Nationality demonym: "Americans"
Continental demonyms: "South Americans" and "North Americans"
Lol, what you said about Nationality Demonym is just wrong. Sure, that is the way it is currently but that is just the wrong demonym when referring to United States by itself.
Obviously …
Country: "United States of America"
Nationality Demonym: "U.S.Americans"
Continental Demonyms: "North Americans" and "South Americans"
Combined Continent Official Demonym: "Americans"
Combined Continent Informal Demonym: "Pan Americans"
North Americans + South Americans = Americans
The “Pan American Olympic Games” ARE obviously …
the “AMERICAN Olympic Games”!!!
you're both wrong about the demonym for the United States. the demonym for someone from the United States should be gringo.
Excuse yourself, but only Joda Loca is the one wrong.
Therefore, I am NOT AT ALL WRONG for the demonym of the United States.
Even “Gringo” (that you mentioned) is not derived from the name “United States”.
Anyway, “United Statesian” or “U.S. American” is the correct term for referring to USA’s national demonym!
We dont care.
-americans
All of you Afghanistanians and foreign countries have to care.
- United Statesians
Usonian is the best demonym. It places the US initials and makes a dignified word out of it. Plus it was invented by my favorite architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s the perfect name.
actually, James Duff Law used the term first.
I will say that “Usonian” may be a good demonym for USA’s nationality, it may place the U.S. initials and make a dignified word out of it, yes, BUT unfortunately USA’s official long name does not include the word Usonia in the country’s name. So …
USAmerica is the Best “Short Name” and USAmerican(s) is the Best “Demonym” for the Nationality of USA!!! 😊👍
I like Usonian as the demonym.
Usamerican is better demonym
By law, I am United Statian. By ancestry, I am Mexican. In recent times, I’ve been more United Statian than Mexican; The last time that I went back to Mexico was in 2010… I think.
Read more...
https://medium.com/@alfredoeladiomoreno/late-stage-longaniza-a739612485ee
I don't mind to be called United Statian. It's clear it refers to us. No ambiguity.
Mhmm...
SPANISH <> ENGLISH
americano = Pan American
estadounidense = American
En castellano "sudamericano,na" indica "del sur de América", sin embargo en inglés América del Sur se considera continente y por eso decir "South American" indica pertenencia a ese continente.
Y con "norteamaricano" y "North American" exactamente lo mismo, en castellano el primero indica "del norte de América" y el segundo "perteneciente al continente de América del Norte".
You have stated the wrong translations of both demonyms.
The correct translation of SPANISH <> ENGLISH
americano = American
estadounidense = Unitedstatesian
e.u. americano = U.S. American
I could do more translations if I have to.