# American = citizen of the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2001, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737 "2001-12-04T00:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/1 "2001-12-04T00:01:04Z")
How do people from Canada and various Central and South American feel about our (I’m an ‘American’) claiming exclusive rights to this moniker? I would assume the origin of it’s use is that the term ‘America’ does exist in our formal name and saying “United States of American” is a mouthful and awkward. All replies are welcome, but please cite whether you are a resident of the other American nations I mentioned above. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/2 "2001-12-04T00:14:09Z")
It is my understanding that any citizen of Canada, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, etc. can rightfully call him or herself an American. But because the USA is the only country in North America or South America that actually uses the word “America” in its name (I believe this is true!), USA citizens have more-or-less adopted it for their own. ---
**Author:** ![Vic\_Ferrari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/dbc845/32.png) [@Vic\_Ferrari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vic_Ferrari)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/3 "2001-12-04T00:48:08Z")
United Mexican States -\> Mexican Republic of Colombia -\> Columbian Republic of Panama -\> Panamanian Federative Republic of Brazil -\> Brazilian United States of America -\> American The US got first dibs. At the time of our founding, we _were_ the only group of sovereign states in the new world, unless you count native american nations, which we should, but I doubt they wanted to claim the name for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/4 "2001-12-04T01:02:50Z")
IIMUT (It Is My Understanding That) the British frequently refer to Canadians as “Americans”, sub-consciously lumping them in with citizens of the USA. ---
**Author:** ![jaimest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jaimest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaimest)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/5 "2001-12-04T01:21:36Z")
I have noticed lately in the press (especially the British, German, and so on) the use of “European” or _Europaisch_ to mean “European Union” related. For instance “European parliament”, “European Economy” and so on. If the EU coalesces into something resembling a state, with its present borders (maybe allowing for a few new members by 2008) - would non-EU nationalities such as the Swiss, the Ukrainians, or the Norwegians no longer be “European”? In Latin America, I notice that the further away from the United States you get, the more likely you are to hear “americano” to mean all the people of the America’s not just “estadounidenses” (Unitedstaters). In some countries, you may hear “norteaméricano” for (USA) American - but that’s sort of unfair to Canadaians, and maybe even Mexicans. One interesting phrase you hear is “nuestra américa” (Our America), used to describe Latin America as opposed to the USA. Then there’s the whole “iberoamérica” , hispanoamérica" versus “latinoamérica” debate…whew. ---
**Author:** ![WEW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@WEW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WEW)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/6 "2001-12-04T02:35:38Z")
I have not heard it for a while, but a few years ago, I heard people refer to Citizens of the United States of America as “United Statens”. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/7 "2001-12-04T03:50:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hey you! \* > **How do people from Canada and various Central and South American feel about our (I’m an ‘American’) claiming exclusive rights to this moniker?** I’m a Canadian. Americans did not “claim exclusive rights” to the term “American.” It’s simply a linguistic development. The term “American” to describe people from your country **predates the American Revolution.** It is a term that’s been in use for over three centuries. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/8 "2001-12-04T04:09:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jaimest \* > **In some countries, you may hear “norteaméricano” for (USA) American - but that’s sort of unfair to Canadaians, and maybe even Mexicans.** According to my wife, they use “norteamericáno” freely to refer to Canadians, too, in the sense of “all those folks to the north of us.” Otherwise, she uses “americano” for United Statesizens, of “canadiense” for Cunucks. Oh yeah, be careful of the Mexican’s who take to calling you “maricon” (sp?) thinking you’ll just assume they mean American – it’s a game the Mexican engineers used to try on us! FWIW, a certain Canadian friend down there would always throw a fit when called “gringo,” claiming he was Canadian so of course he _couldn’t_ be a gringo! ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Crude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Crude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Crude)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/9 "2001-12-04T04:53:07Z")
I think that we here in the 'States could make everybody in the world much happier if we just started calling ourselves _ **USers.** _ ---
**Author:** ![heptapod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@heptapod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heptapod)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/10 "2001-12-04T05:04:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diceman \* > \*\*IIMUT (It Is My Understanding That) the British frequently refer to Canadians as “Americans”, sub-consciously lumping them in with citizens of the USA. \*\* Heh, even the British are buying into that 51st state joke. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/11 "2001-12-04T05:37:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jaimest \* > **I have noticed lately in the press (especially the British, German, and so on) the use of “European” or _Europaisch_ to mean “European Union” related. > For instance “European parliament”, “European Economy” and so on.** It isn’t just in the press. The price guide on postage stamp booklets here in Ireland quotes different prices for “Europe” and for “Rest of the World”. When I had to send a letter to Croatia, I found out that as far as An Post is concerned Croatia falls into the latter category. ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/12 "2001-12-04T08:29:37Z")
I use **american** to refer to anyone from the Americas, and [merkin](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_232.html) exclusively for someone from the US. 🙂 (I’m European by the way) ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Alex\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_B)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/13 "2001-12-04T10:07:07Z")
> [@](#): > > IIMUT (It Is My Understanding That) the British frequently refer to Canadians as “Americans”, sub-consciously lumping them in with citizens of the USA. I think a lot of Brits refer to Canadians as Americans becuase they can’t distinguish the accents. I know I do a lot of the time. Personally I prefer **Yanks** or **Children of the Great Whore** for US citizens, and **Noble North American Subjects of Her Britannic Majesty Elizabeth the Second (Praise Be Her Name)** for Canadians. Alex ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/14 "2001-12-04T12:04:59Z")
It’s one thing to call U.S. people by the adjective _American_. There really is no other one-word adjective in English. It’s not a problem. But if you’re ever in Latin America, please do not say things like “When I was in America,” “I’m going back to America,” etc. Then you should make sure to specify “The United States.” ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/15 "2001-12-04T12:18:25Z")
Vic Ferrari’s mention about the Native Inhabitants of this continent reminds me that I have read somewhere-or-other that in the USA, they were not considered citizens with the full rights pertaining thereto until the early 20th Century. ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/16 "2001-12-04T20:50:39Z")
Many people in Latin America use the term “American” to mean a person from the Western Hemisphere. Some of them find the U.S. habit of referring to United States citizens as “Americans” as those the term always and inveriably refers to U.S. citizens vexing. For whatever its worth, I recall than when I traveled abroad as a teenager back in the 70s with my father, who had lived a portion of his life in Latin America, he always insisted that we give our nationality as “United States Citizen” saying that some people would find it impolite for us to simply say “American” I seem to recall that people in Portugal–where we where Brazilians were often part of our tours–found us to be courteous for doing so. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/17 "2001-12-04T21:16:21Z")
Here is the definition of “American” from the American Heritage dictionary. A·mer·i·can adj. Abbr. A., Amer. 1. Of or relating to the United States of America or its people, language, or culture. 2. Of or relating to North or South America, the West Indies, or the Western Hemisphere. 3. Of or relating to any of the Native American peoples. 4. Indigenous to North or South America. Used of plants and animals. --A·mer·i·can n. Abbr. A., Amer. 1. A native or inhabitant of America. 2. A citizen of the United States. --A·mer“i·can·ness n. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/18 "2001-12-04T21:40:08Z")
Then of course, many folks here in th U.S. prefer “US” (as opposed to “them”) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jaimest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jaimest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaimest)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-citizen-of-the-u-s/96737/19 "2001-12-05T00:10:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JCHeckler \* > \*\*Vic Ferrari’s mention about the Native Inhabitants of this continent reminds me that I have read somewhere-or-other that in the USA, they were not considered citizens with the full rights pertaining thereto until the early 20th Century. \*\* Before 1924, individual Indians or Indian groups could acquire American citizenship. Of course citizenship didn’t always mean “legal equality”. By 1924 about 2/3 of all Indians had become citizens. The “Indian Citizenship Act” of 1924, granted all remaining American Indians citizenship. [http://www.doi.gov/bia/aitoday/q\_and\_a.html](http://www.doi.gov/bia/aitoday/q_and_a.html) Even after this, as with black citizens, the right to vote was still denied until the 1960’s. In New Mexico this was the case.