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.
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Comments (7)
Well, I'll just refer to my nationality as Usonian.
These so called "scholars" are idiots. Every country gets to decide what to call itself. And we've got enough history and generations behind us that we're sticking with America and Americans. Unitedstatesian is a travesty of a made-up word. USian? PUH-LEASE. But thanks anyway. By the way, we don't deny that there are other continents that share our name. But aren't they proud of the names they've chosen for themselves? Incidentally, Mexico is officially "Estados Unidos Mexicanos," which translates to the United Mexican States. Don't you think it would be confusing if they called their country Estados Unidos? I imagine that's why they've chosen Mexicanos. Thankfully they got to choose and don't have you on their case.
Correction ... they chose the demonym of Mexico and the people are Mexicanos.
I find Bundesrepublikan a fair demonym for the so wrongly named germans. There are germans outside of it. I mean, not all germans are Bundesrepublikans. What about that jolly Austrian chap? Land of the Germans, how offensive when there are germans just across the border not a part of this ‘germany.’ Yes, Bundesrepublikan german is much more accurate. I think it is fair for them and fair for the continent inhabitants of other germans.
Why not use Eurasiafican instead of European, Asian, African? Makes about as much sense if not more so. Talk about arbitrary lines, look no further than the eurasian border. At least there is a more clear marker in the Americas than even the Sinai-Suez.
No, it does not, you ignorant piece of *****
"American" is a demonym for continent, same as European, African and Asian. Italians and French are European. Argentines and Brazilians are American.
Kenyans and Ethiopians are African.
Just call us Usonians.
From some of the text on this website, it looks like English is not your first language. That's fine if it isn't but as such, it makes me wonder if you're trying to change the English language to fit something it didn't when you learned the language. For example, when I learned Spanish, I had to accept that "americano" didn't refer to my nationality. I was fine with that, and I adapted. How ridiculous would it be for me to go around correcting the 600 million people that spoke the language before me?
In the same way, I think that learners of English should adapt when they speak English. Don't expect the hundreds of millions of speakers that spoke before you to adapt just to fit your preference.
According to Oxfords dictionary, American is the demonym of the people of Americas
The same dictionary lists another definition that defines American as a demonym of people of the United States. That's my point: there are two definitions for the same word. That happens all the time in linguistics, and my point in my comment above is that it's ridiculous to try and change that. "American" refers to both someone that lives on one of the two continents named America, as well as someone who lives in the only country with the word "America" in its name: the United States of America.
If i can identify as a he/she she/he shemale trans tranny whatever....then why can't i identify with being rom America?
Perfect explanation, Adam. Thanks.
Two meanings for a word huh? Really isn't the case of discriminant use of a word? TO MAKE YOUR ***** COUNTRY LOOKS BIGGER PERHAPS????
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