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
These terms and conditions contain rules about posting comments. By submitting a comment, you are declaring that you agree with these rules:
- Although the administrator will attempt to moderate comments, it is impossible for every comment to have been moderated at any given time.
- You acknowledge that all comments express the views and opinions of the original author and not those of the administrator.
- You agree not to post any material which is knowingly false, obscene, hateful, threatening, harassing or invasive of a person's privacy.
- The administrator has the right to edit, move or remove any comment for any reason and without notice.
Failure to comply with these rules may result in being banned from further commenting.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time and without notice.
Comments (12)
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)
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.
I like to refer to myself as a Statesman, personally. Californian, specifically. IJS....
People are saying that the country name itself, so if my country decide to name itself as Europe and not the original, Can I say that I'm European?
And even more, can we be part of the EU, because you know, we are Europeans now...
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.
"América" means "the lands of Américo".
Américo Vespucio only navigated the Caribbean and South Atlantic, down to Argentine Patagonia.
Sorry US guys, but Américo has nothing to do with you.
Pay homage to Washington or someone else, because Américo couldn't have cared less for your country.
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.