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.
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Comments (41)
From some of the text on this website, it looks like English is not your first language. That's fine if it isn't but as such, it makes me wonder if you're trying to change the English language to fit something it didn't when you learned the language. For example, when I learned Spanish, I had to accept that "americano" didn't refer to my nationality. I was fine with that, and I adapted. How ridiculous would it be for me to go around correcting the 600 million people that spoke the language before me?
In the same way, I think that learners of English should adapt when they speak English. Don't expect the hundreds of millions of speakers that spoke before you to adapt just to fit your preference.
According to Oxfords dictionary, American is the demonym of the people of Americas
The same dictionary lists another definition that defines American as a demonym of people of the United States. That's my point: there are two definitions for the same word. That happens all the time in linguistics, and my point in my comment above is that it's ridiculous to try and change that. "American" refers to both someone that lives on one of the two continents named America, as well as someone who lives in the only country with the word "America" in its name: the United States of America.
If i can identify as a he/she she/he shemale trans tranny whatever....then why can't i identify with being rom America?
Perfect explanation, Adam. Thanks.
Two meanings for a word huh? Really isn't the case of discriminant use of a word? TO MAKE YOUR ***** COUNTRY LOOKS BIGGER PERHAPS????
F U C K I M P E R I A L I S M
We write in English so that monolingual idiots can read our posts.
From (not just some … but) ALL of the text on this website, it looks like English IS their first language. That's good news that it is … and as such, it makes me wonder if you're trying to have the English language (concerning America/American) stay out of sync with the other places of the world that contain the words … North(ern), East(ern), South(ern), West(ern), Central, Anglo, Latin and Middle … in front of other names to undo something that made common sense when you learned logic works in every language. For example, East Europe, South Europe, West Europe and North Europe are all different sections of Europe! You can call them “the Europes” if you want but all of “the Europes” together form their real name Europe (the singular). In fact … the Europes, the Asias and the Africas are 4 - 5 regions forming each of their own singular names Europe, Asia and Africa. In the same way, the Americas are 2 continents forming their singular name America!
… to be continued!
… continued from previous.
How ridiculous would it be for USA people just to (1)steal the same name America that belongs to 2 continents and (2)claim the same demonym American(s) all to themselves for their own nationality when of course it is the identity of 2 continents?
I think that learners of English should adapt to simple logic and use common sense when they speak English … letting other English speakers know that it is INCORRECT to have the same name of place for 2 different words in the world - (these words include Continent - Region - Country - Province - State - City - Area) - but can be the name for 1 set of 2 or more! For example, America cannot be the name for both 1 continent and 1 country at the same time - but it can be the name for 1 continent or 1 set of continents only.
Don't expect the hundreds of millions of speakers that know proper English (such as Latin Americans) to adapt just to fit USA’s preference.