Forums → The Tavern → Why are USA citizens called Americans...

America is a continent not a country.

Technically anyone living in North or South America should be called an American.

USA citizens should be called...USAians =D

I'm not really seeing where this is going... I'll toss it to the tavern and see if it develops into a good conversation ^.^

The country is called the United States of America.
As in they are the united states who are in the continent America...

America was reffered to as the Americas. And yes, it is a continent.

The reason that the other countries aren't called Americans is that by having names like Mexicans and Canadians it helps them be recognized because they are much smaller in population.

America was reffered to as the Americas.

And yes, it is a continent.

As in they are the united states who are in the continent America...

flappybob999, I have to disagree with you a little, America is the combination of North and South American. If you don't belive me I will put the definition from a dictionary:

a landmass in the western hemisphere that consists of the continents of North and South America joined by the Isthmus of Panama. The continent was originally inhabited by American Indians and Inuits. The northeast coastline of North America was visited by Norse seamen in the 8th or 9th century, but for the modern world the continent was first reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
⢠used as a name for the United States.

Its called we're american citizens... >_> In canada, they're called canadians, and mexico, they're called mexicans..... xD

Because historically speaking, we became the dominant nation of the two American continents.

North and south are the Americas not america...

Right North and South are the Americas anyone who lives in North or South America has the right to call themselves Americans. Canadians are Americans. Mexicans are Americans.

We are called Americans because the USA stands for The United States of America if you forgot your 3rd grade history lesson. Also, people in south America are called SOUTH AMERICANS. I'm sorry you don't get to be called an awesome name like that.

this is a comment that took little thinking about, Have you ever relized why we call people that live in Europe, Europians

Eeexcuuse me, I'm Canadian, which is in North America, the continent. The country's called Canada, and we call ourselves Canadians. We're proud of that, and I'd have to say that, under no circumstances will I trade in the name of a Canadian for the name of an American, it's my right to be Canadian. Do you see people calling Russian citizens Asians, because that's the continent they live in? No. Same goes here, America doesn't rule the entire Western part of the World. No personal offense to you guys, but this just won't happen.

I agree with DM and wonder why we are even discussing this. No one can give the exact explanation on why we are called Americans. I don't see a problem with it because if someone asked a person from Canada what they were and they said American, it would cause great confusion.

Well I'm saying technically . If your from Canada, be proud that your called a Canadian.

But technically, if you live in North or South America, your an American. Just like anyone living in Europe is called a European.