Today, in the AP article on how Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the US are seen by other Latinos as examples of a pro-Mexican bias in our country (compared to other Latin and especially Central American countries), they refer to people from El Salvador as Salvadorians. However, the adjective form Salvadoran, as well as Salvadorean, is shown in the Merriam-Webster Online, along with Salvadorian. I’ve always heard and used Salvadoran.
Which is considered more “correct” to use stylistically for people from El Salvador?
As a Salvadoran, I can tell you it’s “Salvadoran”.
Some extra trivia: In Spanish you’d say “Salvadoreño/a”. There’s a couple of colloquial ways in Spanish to refer to Salvadorans: “Salvatrucho/a” and “Guanaco/a”. Unfortunately, MS-13 has tarnished the first one as they have adopted it into their gang name: “Mara Salvatrucha” (Mara is regional slang for gang in El Salvador).
And yes, I don’t think Salvadorans much care about “Cinco”. From what I’ve heard, I don’t think Mexicans much care for it either (the ones in Mexico anyways). September 15/16 is the main holiday down in Mexico / Central America (Independence day). Let me know if you want to know more things about El Salvador (though I’ve been out of there for 21 years). Nonetheless, I’ll go have a Corona somewhere, because, hey, why not.
Totally incorrect, I’m sure, is the common Spanglish use of “Salvadorainian”. I just try not to talk about El Salvador or people from there. Its too hard.
They’re all acceptable, according to editors, but I think “Salvadoran” is preferred because it’s the most simple. The LA Times uses “Salvadoran,” and LA is the largest concentration of the population from the country outside of the country itself.