USA is not America

Even when we stated on our home page that this site is not about demonyms, because of popular demand, we are forced to clarify on this issue.

What is Demonyms?

A demonym is a name given to natives or residents of a certain or specific place. The term gentilic was used previously but is now uncommon.

A demonym is usually, but not always, derived from the name of a place.



So what about the people from the United States?

It's wide known that many people use the term American to refer to the people from the United States of America, hence overlapping the demonyms of the inhabitants of the continent of America (remember that America is one whole continent with three sub continents) with the inhabitants of the country.

So many scholars have proposed the use of many terms to solve this misuse: US American and Unitedstatesian and USian among others.

We strongly believe that US American is a fair demonym for the people of the United States of America; fair for them and fair for the continent inhabitants.

Add Comment

* Required information
1000
Powered by Commentics

Comments (39)

Nathan(United States)says...

To steal one from Frank Lloyd Wright, I think Usonian would be a great term to adopt. It both captures the essence of the United States as distinct from America and (just as importantly, as people would have to adopt it in mass) rolls off the tongue.

US-American feels manufactured, and United-Statesian is just way too clunky to ever catch on. Of course, what with the hundreds of songs proclaiming pride in being "American", I doubt any movement to change our predominant demonym will ever have much of an impact. One can always hope, though!

Setsuko(United States)says...

James Duff Law coined the term.

The Real and True American(Canada)says...

I just think … you should tell me how can words be manufactured.

I don’t really understand you on the definition of ‘US-American feeling manufactured’.

Fabián argentino y americano(Argentina)says...

On the website of the University of Portland there are many introductory texts about its characteristics and those of the country in which most of the time they write "US American"!

It seems that there is a movement in the United States itself that notices (surely young) that the term "American" is too possessive, existing the name "The Americas" because some things referred to it are also called American (even in current English), as for example the existence of the Organization of American States based in Washington proves it! It is, it seems to me, a generation of

Most considerate US-Americans.

Fabián americano - Argentina(Argentina)says...

Texts with the name "US American" are published on the website of the St. Mark's School of Massachusetts, at least in their headlines because in some parts it is put back as only American, we must congratulate them!!

Alexis Blaylock(United States)says...

The proper and most accurate demonym for a citizen of the United States is "United Statian" (sometimes spelled United Stateian). The United States is a country – not a continent. The term American is ambiguous since citizens from Argentina, Panama, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil and other countries in the Americas are also Americans. Citizens of Russian are called Russian. Citizens of Canada are called Canadians. Citizens of South Africa are called South Africans. It is the same with other countries: England - English, Congo – Congolese, France – French, Switzerland – Swiss, Panama – Panamanian, and so forth. The United States is the only country I know of that arrogantly lays claim to be called by an entire continent (in this case, two continents) and routinely omits their country of origin.

Alexis Blaylock(United States)says...

Correction: ...(sometimes spelled United Statesian)

Setsuko(United States)says...

but for some reason, Netherlands - Dutch

The Real and True American(Canada)says...

LOL, but at least the good thing about the demonym Dutch is that: IT’S NOT “derived from any other word” or “taking away any other country’s name (etc.)”!

I would say that “Dutch” and “Netherlander(s) are …

the demonyms for the country of Netherlands! 🙂

USAisAmerica(United States)says...

Someone from the US is American. End of story. Don't disrespect the English Language like that.

Fabián americano(Argentina)says...

Typical USian arrogance haha

The Real and True American(Canada)says...

Your name is not correct. Someone from the U.S. is not American by nationality, but only by Double-Continent. USA is the U.S., and the initials U.S. does not stand for America but stands for United States. Therefore, USA’s national demonym is United Statesian. End of story.

👉 There’s NO SUCH THING as “disrespecting a language” (including the English Language). So don’t disrespect the true meaning of all words in your language like that, as they all refer to the same thing in all languages - such as “America” truly means “The New World” and “American” truly means “someone or something related to the New World” - regardless of your language(s) that you speak.

Davesays...

America is a continent.

The United States Of America is a country

American are the people of The United States Of America

North-American are the people from Mexico, Canada and United States Of America.

Center-American and South-American are the people from such regeions.

The United States Of America!

The Real and True American(Canada)says...

You got that WRONG Dave! You make no sense. If you said America is a continent, then Americans are NOT (just) the people of United States. Americans are the people that live in the place called America (which is 1 or 2 continents). Americans is the demonym derived from the word America!

The Real and True American(Canada)says...

America is a single or double continent.

The United States of America (USA) is a country. United States (US) is the only acceptable short name for USA!

American(s) is/are the people of North America and South America.

North-American(s) is/are the people of Northern America and Middle America.

Northern-American(s) is/are the people of Canada, United States and Mexico.

Middle American(s) is/are the people of Central America and Caribbean America.

The Real and True American(Canada)says...

Central-American(s) is/are the people of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

Caribbean-American(s) is/are the people of Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago.

South-American(s) is/are the people of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile.

Anglo Americans and Latin Americans are the people from such countries of America.

North and South America!

The Real and True American(Canada)says...

I 100% AGREE with the final paragraph as spoken: "We strongly believe that U.S. American is a fair demonym for the people of the United States of America; fair for them and fair for the continent inhabitants."

U.S. American is the MOST APPROPRIATE way to describe the USA's Demonym versus any other way (In My Opinion)!!! It helps let me know what everyone is referring to between the country and The Continent!!!

Way To Go and Congratulations to the Author(s) of this website!!!

Nebbie(United States)says...

USA = Gringoland or Gringland, The United Gring(o) States, the United States of Gring(o)land

USA Demonym = Gringo/a, Gring, estadounidense

Mexico = Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Estados Unidos de México

Mexico Demonym = Mexicano/a, Mexican, estadounidense (Mexico is the other united states)

Chupitoelpame(Belarus)says...

Gringoland is not a good option cause Gringo is used to refer to the People of The US exclusively just by the mexicans (and maybe other centralamerican countries, and is not a friendly term). In other countries of America the term gringo has other meanings and is not offensive at all.

mojojojo(Chile)says...

all latin americans refer to them as gringos, or gringos culiaos, pinches gringos, gringos boludos etc.

Davesays...

It is not logical that you would take words from grammars to name a country.

United States is a referral to a location and not a proper name.

The word United "Statian" is bending the grammar to make it a proper name.

United States fits more into a sub-name to refer to certain locations.

United States of what? Mexico or Brasil?, perhaps Canada?.

Or United States of China?

or United States of Asia?

It is a country with a unfinished terminology.

You just could not name it United States because other countries already have United States follow by their proper name (example: United States of Mexico).

And grammar is not mathematics where because someone already have United States as a name the other would have to be "United States 2" (or proper name instead of the "2").

The people that invaded America did whatever they wanted to do with the vast lands.

Setsuko(United States)says...

A more literal translation would be United Mexican States. As for the demonym for USA, how about Usonian?

Sensible panda(UK)says...

Usonian seems to be an established term. I use it to avoid the issue. Also, it gives an opportunity to raise problem with the US and its name with other people.

The Real and True American(Canada)says...

Hey Dave!

United States IS the proper name and official short name for United States of America.

The demonym "United Statian" is perfect for bending the grammar to make it a proper name.

United States can only be a sub-name for any countries containing “United States of” … excluding United States of America!

Angela(United States)says...

I like to refer to myself as a Statesman, personally. Californian, specifically. IJS....

united nationssays...

I got it, that is because California was supposed to be a country.

Californian people.

United States means that some States are in agreement together.



Like us on Facebook or Share with your friends.

Let the world know that USA should not be called America! America is one whole continent.