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General discussionWhat are inhabitants of the United States called?(214 posts)(214 posts)
(214 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted April 09, 2015
Just now something weird struck me (which is strange, as it's weird as long as the name exists, yet the usage is so common, it doesn't strike as weird):

Citizens of the United States are usually called 'Americans'. However, an American is everyone living in America, from Canada up in the north of North-America, through Panama in Middle-America, up to Argentina in South-America.

Canadians, people from Panama, Argentinians are all Americans. So what is the proper name for people in the United States of America?

'Staters'?
Post edited April 09, 2015 by DubConqueror
Posted April 09, 2015
You don't think it's weirdly appropriate for us to appropriate something that should belong to everyone and use it like we've a singular claim to it?

(I'm just kidding, NSA. Don't drone me.)

I think we'd identify more with our individual states, label-wise, if "American" wasn't an option.
Posted April 09, 2015
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DubConqueror: Canadians, people from Panama, Argentinians are all Americans.
Technically, yes, but calling any of them Americans to the face would probably just offend them simply because said term pretty much has become the de-facto label for US citizens.

It's a good question though. Beats me! =P
Post edited April 09, 2015 by mistermumbles
Posted April 09, 2015
US american ?
Posted April 09, 2015
Yankee? :D
Posted April 09, 2015
I'd go with USAian - it's Official! :)
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/USAian
Posted April 09, 2015
high rated
We should ditch "American" and go with something unique. Something distinctive. Mysterious. Something like "Batman." Does it make sense? No, but the conversations would be glorious:

"Where are you from?"
"I'm Batman, actually."
"No kidding? I had an aunt that recently passed the citizenship test to become Batman."
Posted April 09, 2015
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babark: Yankee? :D
Inside the US the name is used by southerners for people living in the northern half of the USA, so it wouldn't really denominate all US citizens.

But Pathduck pointed to the wiktionary and it has some interesting etymological information: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Yankee

The word Yankee was introduced by us Dutchmen - actually, those who left the Netherlands to found New Amsterdam (also known as New York, but that's just a footnote ;-) ).
Posted April 09, 2015
People of Chuck Norris.
Posted April 09, 2015
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DubConqueror: Inside the US the name is used by southerners for people living in the northern half of the USA, so it wouldn't really denominate all US citizens.
Indeed, but by someone outside of the US, "Yankee" is used to refer to all Americans.
Like how "punjabi" or "paki" have specific meanings and uses, but have now (in some places) spread to refer to any person from the Indian subcontinent.
Posted April 09, 2015
Some of our nuts probably think the correct term is "Christian."
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babark: Yankee? :D
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DubConqueror: Inside the US the name is used by southerners for people living in the northern half of the USA, so it wouldn't really denominate all US citizens.
Usually "Yankee" is used for people from New England (northeastern U.S.).
Post edited April 09, 2015 by jadegiant
Posted April 09, 2015
Midnorthern Ameroeuropeans?
Posted April 09, 2015
The same that inhabitants of any country be called... slaves.

Or maybe a simpler term like 'out of shape, cruel, entitled, tech-dependent, self absorbed narcissists.' Yeah, that one just rolls right off the tongue.
Posted April 09, 2015
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DubConqueror: Canadians, people from Panama, Argentinians are all Americans. So what is the proper name for people in the United States of America?
Well, sort of. In the same way that you are European. They've gone and made life difficult for themselves by calling their country and their continent(s) the same thing.

I would call those mentioned above Canadians, Panamanians and Argentinians. My understanding is that certainly Canadians (don't know about the others) get rather huffy if they're referred to as Americans. People from the United States of America are Americans.
Posted April 09, 2015
The USA is the only country with "America" in the name, hence why they're called Americans . Is it really that complicated ?
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionWhat are inhabitants of the United States called?(214 posts)(214 posts)
(214 posts)