Did you know America is the name of the whole continent?

TheOrange Evil

"American" can have many meanings. The USA is the only country where "American" refers to nationality and citizenship, though. You may be a resident of the South American continent if you live Brazil, for example, and you could call yourself an American or South American, but that wouldn't denote your nationality or citizenship in any particular country. It'd be like calling yourself European or African.

We are the United States (we have fifty states) of (the continent called North) America. What should we be calling ourselves? United Statesians? "American" is the most logical designation. You are reaching a bit. We took that name because, at the time of our founding, we were the first country to break away from colonial rule. We were comprised of 13 separate British colonies that became states after independence. That's why we're called the United States of America. When we became an independent country, we were the only one of our kind in the Americas.

Everybody acknowledges that "America" can refer to the American continents AND citizens of the USA. You're overreacting a bit.

stormer_xxi

Actually, it's TWO continents, genius.

You must have learned geography in the American (I'm sorry, the US) school system.

By the way, did you know that the official name of Mexico is Los Estados Unidos de Mexico? Or the United States of Mexico? So United States can refer to more than one country as well.

I did know that many Native Americans are not native to the US. Ironically, I represent several pro bono in immigration court.

Dont Tread On Me.....

It's actually "North America and "South America."

Two separate, but touching, continents.

Maybe it is you that failed geography.

Go back to your country, I'll stay in mine.

Dave Browning

Thank you for trying to cram political correctness down our throat. Now here is the answers your misguided rants.
The term indians was started by colombus, if you know that story, and it stuck, so sorry. Besides, native americans emigrated here via the bering strait, so, as native as I am.
North Ameirca and South America are continents, not America. The USA was the first colony of the Americas to achieve total independance, so when we were beating the crap out of the best army and commanders in the world, the other 'countries were still being gouged by the European powers. We were first, and are the best, we are the Americans.
Also, none of those other 40 counties have America in their name, so, tough luck. call yourselves what you will, but if you are Bolivian and try to call yourself American, I would just be sad for you, because it would seem you wanted to hang on the shirttails of the cool nation, while saying you did not want to be affilliated with your own country.

TomTom, thats just dumb: you classify Europe and Asia as separate continents, even though they are joined much more than north and south america. In your thinking, what does make up a continent?

Patrick M

I learned all of this in schools. Repeatedly. It's more that people don't actually pay attention to their classes than that it's not taught. They learn things for the tests and then forget them...

However, there is an argument to be made for the confusion with "American" -- with the country named "The United States of America", what else would you call a citizen of the country? A Unitedstatesian? People from Canada are Canadian; people from Chile are Chilean; people from the United States of America are simply American. There's just no other term for our nationality. Essentially, there's "American" on the level of "Egyptian" and "American" on the level of "African". When we use it, it's on the level of nationality.

JayBee

Oh jesus..I don't even know WHERE to start on this one...

Excuse me Poonjab, how about a nice warm glass of shut the f*ck up?

Get the facts straight - or look at a GLOBE - before you come with that weak stuff...

but thanks for the points!

COUGH*douchebag*COUGH

I = WJS

I did, and i suppose its cause its easier to say "America" than "The United States of America" every time you refer to the country.

BUILD THE WALL

So
Stay out of the USA

Flying Hawaii

Actually, you're wrong.

North America is one continent, and South America is another continent.

Also, the term "Native American" is generally used by people in the U.S.A. In Canada, the term "First Nations" is preferred.

And, it is generally accepted around the world that the term "American" refers to people from the U.S.A. Canadians don't call themselves Americans, but sometimes call themselves "North Americans."

Geography is poorly taught in the U.S.A., but it looks like you're no better off.

eminembolism

Why yes -- yes, I do know that. Thanks for your attempt.

alotta

Last I heard, there is North America: Canada & USA
South America and Central America.

Therefore its considered the Americas...

Andee

No it isn't. There is the North American continent and the South American continent. There is NO continent named America. The name of the USA is United States of America and gets shortened to America. There is no other country with "America" in its name except for the USA.

Yes, they teach us geography in USA schools. What about you? Where did you learn your geography and the names of the continents and countries?

tomtom there are 7 continents in the world.

Jack The Ripper

I'm sorry did you have a point,or did you just need to rant?

AD

StephakneeSays

Of course we have geography class, and in it we are taught the 7 continent model. In that model, there is no such continent as America. North America and South America are the continents - since they are two distinct land masses, and together they can be referred to as the Americas - plural. The other continents are Antarctica, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. Some models combine two or more continents - but that doesn't mean that they should (with the exception of Eurasia, perhaps, since the two seem to occupy the same land mass).

Part of the geographical area between North America and South America is sometimes called Central America, but Central America is not a continent and which countries belong and which donâ€™t isnâ€™t completely clear. Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries in North and South America are commonly grouped together as Latin America. That is the opposite of the less-common Anglo-America, which distinguishes the countries in the Americas that speak predominantly English. Again, together all of these names and descriptions refer to the Americas - again plural.

The United States of America is commonly and correctly referred to as America, and its citizens are Americans. There is no just-plain-America other than the brief descriptive name of the United States of America.

Most countries have something along the lines of "republic," "federation," "grand duchy," or "commonwealth" in the full name. However, the countries themselves are commonly referred to by a brief name derived from the distinctive part of the full name, e.g. China, Russia, Luxembourg or Australia.

Do we say French Republic? No, we just call it France.

Federative Republic of Brazil? Not at all necessary - just call it Brazil.

United Mexican States? No, itâ€™s Mexico.

United States of America? America will suffice, thanks.

Mexicans are not United Statesians. Chinese are not Republicans. Australians are not Commonwealthians. If citizens of Leichtenstein and Andorra were both called "Principalians," you wouldn't know who was from where, would you? Hence, I am not United Statesian. I am a citizen of the United States of America. The country I live in is America. I am American.

Sweet Tea & Lemons

You are very ingnorant !! It is 2 continents. Get the facts straight.
AND,
I have read many of you other answers.........and many times you seem to answer them with ignorance. AND you do NOT know your history and you don't have the historical facts straight. Don't they teach you anything in Mexico ??? YOU are a RACIST ! And you are full of HATE.
If you are going to ask and answer , you should at least have the facts straight first

hemihead_38

We are Americans because we are the United States of AMERICA get it?

HAPA CHIC

lol you think south and north america are the same continent ?
40 other countries besides USA on the continent ...lol you have proven it is not only some Americans who do not get a good education .Look up the encylepidia before you rumble garbish .Noth and south are two different continents !!!

Trekker

Yes. The northern part is north america, the southern part is south america and the whole land mass is called america or even sometimes the new world.

I'm referring to the continent by the way.

tomtom

no guys, america is one continent (south and north america is just one continent: america).
there are 6 continents on earth: america, europe, asia, africa, oceania and antarctica) but it's just faster to say america for the country.
like for oceania, people tend to refer it as australia, even though new zealand and other countries are part of oceania.

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