4 ms·

Well I for one (born in Venezuela and moved to Italy) used to be mildly annoyed when italians used the term "americano" to refer people from USA, and used to te

Well I for one (born in Venezuela and moved to Italy) used to be mildly annoyed when italians used the term "americano" to refer people from USA, and used to tell them "I'm also american". In Venezuela I used "estadounidense" [1] and in italian it would be "statunintense" the proper form, but almost nobody uses it. Now I'm used to it and don't mind it anymore and this is the first time I've heard of the term USAian and find it quite amousing but I don't think it will catch on. [1] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/estadounidense https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/estadounidense

ericmay 6y ago
But wouldn't you be sudamericano? America isn't a continent. We have North America and South America. We typically refer to the grouping of those two continents as 'The Americas', but not America. At least not that I've ever seen. On a side note - maybe it depends on if you are taught a different number of continents? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent) In the U.S. we do 7. Maybe in Venezuela or Brasil they do 5? I guess that's one of the things that confuses me here. If you're from Europe you can be European because that's the continent you're from. If you're from Canada you can be Canadian or North American, but you can't be American because that's not a continent. I mean I guess you technically can, but it's a bit of a lossy term to use. It isn't specific enough. Do people from Bangladesh or Pakistan think of themselves as Asian, or Pakistani? I guess as I see some of this discussion, it strikes me as very arbitrary and resentful, and also not very consistent. > USAian and find it quite amousing but I don't think it will catch on. Yea I saw it and had to do a double take because I thought it was USAsian. I think at least in English it won't catch on because it doesn't flow very well.
- torgian 6y ago
  In East Asia, but especially in Taiwan, Japan and China, people from the USA are usually called American. Normally, when asked, I state I’m from California or the US. I think it’s just a language thing here. It’s easier to say America than it is to say USA or United States. I’m sure Canadians and others get quite annoyed from that.
  - ericmay 6y ago
    I usually say the same. I’m from X or I’m from the United States. If you’re Canadian you’d say I’m from North America, not America. If you’re from Brazil you’d say you’re from South America. The same would be true of Americans. You’d say you’re from North America. That’s the continent. If you are going to go down that route. Do Mexicans, Canadians, Brazilians, and others really consider themselves of the region of the Americas and not from one of the two continents? I just don’t get the organizational structure that’s used. You wouldn’t say you’re American, that’s for sure. You’d say you’re north or South American.
- FR10 6y ago
  Yes, in my Latam country they taught us there were 5 continents: America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. However, we call ourselves latinos or something else, really.

ericmay 6y ago

But wouldn't you be sudamericano? America isn't a continent. We have North America and South America. We typically refer to the grouping of those two continents as 'The Americas', but not America. At least not that I've ever seen. On a side note - maybe it depends on if you are taught a different number of continents? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent) In the U.S. we do 7. Maybe in Venezuela or Brasil they do 5? I guess that's one of the things that confuses me here. If you're from Europe you can be European because that's the continent you're from. If you're from Canada you can be Canadian or North American, but you can't be American because that's not a continent. I mean I guess you technically can, but it's a bit of a lossy term to use. It isn't specific enough. Do people from Bangladesh or Pakistan think of themselves as Asian, or Pakistani? I guess as I see some of this discussion, it strikes me as very arbitrary and resentful, and also not very consistent. > USAian and find it quite amousing but I don't think it will catch on. Yea I saw it and had to do a double take because I thought it was USAsian. I think at least in English it won't catch on because it doesn't flow very well.

torgian 6y ago
In East Asia, but especially in Taiwan, Japan and China, people from the USA are usually called American. Normally, when asked, I state I’m from California or the US. I think it’s just a language thing here. It’s easier to say America than it is to say USA or United States. I’m sure Canadians and others get quite annoyed from that.
- ericmay 6y ago
  I usually say the same. I’m from X or I’m from the United States. If you’re Canadian you’d say I’m from North America, not America. If you’re from Brazil you’d say you’re from South America. The same would be true of Americans. You’d say you’re from North America. That’s the continent. If you are going to go down that route. Do Mexicans, Canadians, Brazilians, and others really consider themselves of the region of the Americas and not from one of the two continents? I just don’t get the organizational structure that’s used. You wouldn’t say you’re American, that’s for sure. You’d say you’re north or South American.
FR10 6y ago
Yes, in my Latam country they taught us there were 5 continents: America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. However, we call ourselves latinos or something else, really.