# What are people from USA called, not americans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165 "2022-12-07T20:49:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/21 "2022-12-07T21:39:44Z")
But be aware, Central America and Latin America are not synonyms and don’t contain the same countries as each other. All of Central America is part of Latin America, but Mexico, for example, is not Central America – it is North America, but it is part of Latin America. And then you have all of South America, which either is all lopped into Latin America or all but Suriname, Guyana, Belize, as I mentioned above. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/22 "2022-12-07T21:46:41Z")
The OP is - as everyone is saying - flatly wrong. As additional proof Brazil was the “Republic of the United States of Brazil” from 1889 to 1930 and everybody called the country Brazil and its inhabitants Brazilians. Mexico is offically “Estados Unidos Mexicanos” or United Mexican States. Everybody calls it Mexico and its inhabitants Mexicans. We are the United States of America. We can call the country the US, the USA, or America, but its inhabitants are always properly called Americans. We’ve done this before. [Defining American](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defining-american/512858) [Since when and why is the United States called “America”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-when-and-why-is-the-united-states-called-america/511294) [Are we the only United States?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-the-only-united-states/232203) I see the OP is not from the US, but this isn’t a case of American chauvinism, but of how language works. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/23 "2022-12-07T21:47:21Z")
Throughout the Caribbean, people identify strongly with their island. Visiting the tiny island of Dominica, a woman glanced toward a small group, shook her head, and muttered, “Jamaicans” in disgust. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/24 "2022-12-07T22:21:49Z")
Some Spanish-speakers refer to us as Estadounidenses (Spanish for “United Statesians”). And it’s almost as clumsy in Spanish as it is in English. “Imperialista yanqui” rolls off the tongue much more smoothly. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/25 "2022-12-07T22:25:50Z")
> [@Loggins](#): > > So what is the right descriptive name for people from USA? Americans. It is the descriptive name recognized around the world. If you said to someone that you are an American no one anywhere is going to ask you what kind, Mexican?, Canadian?, Salvadoran? They will imediately know where you are from and what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/26 "2022-12-07T22:33:23Z")
Although, I’ve also occasionally seen usages of “Central America” that included Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/27 "2022-12-07T22:40:42Z")
I’ve seen people refer to Brazilians as Hispanics. That’s wrong too. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/28 "2022-12-07T22:43:29Z")
Oh, huh. That’s interesting. The United Nations geoscheme for the Americas does lop it in with Central America: > **[United Nations geoscheme for the Americas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_geoscheme_for_the_Americas)** > > The following is an alphabetical list of countries in the United Nations geoscheme for the Americas grouped by subregion and (if applicable) intermediate region. Note that the continent of North America comprises the intermediate regions of the Caribbean, Central America, and Northern America. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/29 "2022-12-07T22:55:06Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’ve seen people refer to Brazilians as Hispanics. > > That’s wrong too. Why? Doesn’t Hispania include Portugal too? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/30 "2022-12-07T22:57:08Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Why? Doesn’t Hispania include Portugal too? The term “[Hispanic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic)” usually refers to people, cultures, and countries related to Spain and the Spanish language. Hence, not Brazil. Edit: and, as per Wikipedia, Brazilians don’t typically self-identify as Hispanic: > [@](#): > > “Hispanic” is totally void of any self-identification in Brazil, and quite to the contrary, serves the purpose of marking a clear distinction in relation to neighboring countries’ culture. Brazilians may identify as Latin-Americans, but refute being considered Latinos or Hispanics because their language and culture are neither part of the Hispanic cultural sphere, nor Spanish-speaking world. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/31 "2022-12-07T22:58:02Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Why? Doesn’t Hispania include Portugal too? Not since conversational Latin went out of style. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/32 "2022-12-07T22:58:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Why? Doesn’t Hispania include Portugal too? It does. However, “Hispanic” now means “Spanish-speaking individuals, usually those who reside in the New World.” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/33 "2022-12-07T23:46:40Z")
Forgive the possible hijack: What nationality does “Asian” now refer to? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/34 "2022-12-07T23:48:50Z")
Why would you think that Asian means any particular nationality? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/35 "2022-12-07T23:51:38Z")
Sorry, need to re-phrase: does “Asian” refer to any specific nationality? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/36 "2022-12-07T23:52:47Z")
Not that I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/37 "2022-12-07T23:57:59Z")
Is there any nation that includes “Asia” as a prominent part of its name? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/38 "2022-12-08T00:03:38Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I was not aware of that, but a quick google search confirms that you are correct. > > Britain says there are seven continents, same as us. France says there are six. North American and South America are one continent called Amerique. > > There seems to be a lot of variety in other countries. See the Wikipedia article for more detail on the different approaches: > **[Continent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent)** > > A continent is any of several large geographical regions. Continents are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria. A continent could be a single landmass or a part of a very large landmass, as in the case of Asia or Europe. Due to this, the number of continents varies; up to seven or as few as four geographical regions are commonly regarded as continents. Most English-speaking countries recognize seven regions as continents. In order from largest to smallest in area,... ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/39 "2022-12-08T00:07:49Z")
> [@Loggins](#): > > We call people from USA americans, and people from Canada Canadians. But arent they all americans (North Americans) No. I am Canadian, not American. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165/40 "2022-12-08T00:17:01Z")
Personally, I can see the logic behind calling “America” a single continent, and likewise “Afreurasia”. And on the other hand, I can also see the logic behind calling Africa, Asia, and Europe all separate, or perhaps even including the region south of the Himalayas a separate continent. But I can’t see the logic of calling “America” one continent, while simultaneously insisting that “Europe” and “Asia” are separate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-from-usa-called-not-americans/976165.md?page=3)