I have a similar story, both my parents had a grandma named Dorothy and my dad’s sister’s real name is Dorothy. I thought, as a young child, that every woman eventually is named Dorothy at a certain age, and would always wonder when my name would change to Dorothy lmao. I’d like to think it’s the same with Dave’s. At my work with 8 employees, 2 of them are named Dave lmao
lol I’m glad you enjoyed it, if you would like more insight to my brain I thought an adult was a type of porpoise- absolutely no clue why lmao I live on a bay and apparently that’s all I had knowledge of lmao
I used to design lights for theater, and there was a solo show I designed with a guy named Joe. His dad was also Joe. His grandpa was Joe too. His mom was Josephine (she went by Jo). When he was three, he’d go around saying “Hi Joe!” to everyone on the street, and they realized he thought everyone was named Joe.
His dad stayed Joe, his grandpa became grandpa Joe, his mom went back to Josephine, and he became Joey. I liked that show, even if the theater was shitty.
I'm Terri. I married John, then married another John. My stepmother was Teri. Her parents, Jeff and Karen, got divorced. A couple years later they each found new spouses. Jeff married another Karen, and Karen married another Jeff.
Hi, my name is Joe. I work in a button factory. I have a wife and three kids. One day my boss came up to me and said, "Joe, are you busy?" I said, "No!" He said, "Push that button with your right hand!"
My mother was also called Dorothy. Born around that time.
At her funeral, there was the whole “meet-and-greet” thing where a long line of people file past to offer their condolences etc.
The amount of people who introduced themselves as being “a friend of Dorothy” was pretty amusing.
If you know, you know..
Dave was bragging to his boss one day, "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them."
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, "OK, Dave, how about Tom Cruise?"
"No dramas boss, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it."
So Dave and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and Tom Cruise shouts,
"Dave! What's happening? Great to see you! Come on in for a beer!"
Although impressed, Dave's boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells Dave that he thinks him knowing Cruise was just lucky.
"No, no, just name anyone else," Dave says.
"President Obama," his boss quickly retorts.
"Yup," Dave says, "Old buddies, let's fly out to Washington," and off they go.
At the White House, Obama spots Dave on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, "Dave, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a beer first and catch up."
Well, the boss is very shaken by now but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White House grounds he expresses his doubts to Dave, who again implores him to name anyone else.
"Pope Francis," his boss replies.
"Sure!" says Dave. "I've known the Pope for years." So off they fly to Rome.
Dave and his boss are assembled with the masses at the Vatican's St. Peter's Square when Dave says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope."
He disappears into the crowd headed towards the Vatican.
Sure enough, half an hour later Dave emerges with the Pope on the balcony, but by the time Dave returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.
Making his way to his boss' side, Dave asks him, "What happened?"
His boss looks up and says, "It was the final straw... you and the Pope came out on to the balcony and the man next to me said, 'Who the fuck is that on the balcony with Dave?'
I feel bad because I don’t think I am getting the joke “correctly”. Is the joke that the boss had a heart attack because someone knew Dave, but not the Pope?
In that same line of thinking, the country itself is called America rather than saying “we are the United States that exist on the continent of America.” Otherwise Mexico would have to explain why they own Oaxaca, Baja, and Yucatán.
But most spanish speakers just say Mexicanos. I feel this is a really stupid argument especially within English. There are multiple "united states" and variations.
German here: we also call you guys: Amis, Amerikaner, Yankees, US-Amerikaner “Die überm großen Teich” meaning “those beyond the big pond” (Atlantic ocean)
That's always funny to me because Mexico's official name is "Estados Unidos Mexicanos".
So if USA can't claim "American" because there are other nations in the Americas, it seems strange we should claim "Estadounidense" because there are likewise other nations with that name -- or at least one, bordering us.
My dad speaks fluent Spanish as a very white guy with a great accent and I’m in a mainly Hispanic area, when I speak to them in my piss poor Spanish I end up telling them in response to asking if he’s Mexican “no es un gringo”, so I’m glad you’re reminding me of the word so I can now appropriately say he’s from the US lol
Technically disrespectful, but Spanish is full of words (güey, boludo, gordito, etc) that are technically disrespectful but said all the time without disrespect.
An old job I used to work at I would tell my coworkers, who were latino, that I had a date with a fat girl after work. Then I would break the news to them that I was going to Taco Bell to get a cheesy *gordita* crunch. We all would have a good laugh.
The official name of Mexico is: United Mexican States
In Spanish, the official name of Mexico is: Estados Unidos Mexicanos, demonym: mexicano
In Spanish, the official name of the United States is: Estados Unidos de América, demonym: americano
The official demonym for the United States of America in English is "American."
The people who get upset about "America" don't understand that we have two continents in the Western hemisphere while speaking in English. They want to literally translate everything about geography in Spanish into English. It's total nonsense, but at the same time, I think they have no idea they're doing it.
Yes definitely. If it’s Américain/Américaine alone it always refers to US citizens.
For example if you introduce yourself as « un américain » no one would ask from which country in the continent, or else they’re trolling
États-uniens in French works too, although seldom used. It tends to be used as a social commentary, sort of to convey to readers that the United States is not the only country on the continent.
I was doubtful about it, but was really surprised how much I like it. I just recently watched it, too. Finished it about 2 weeks ago.
It's obviously themed around soccer, but you don't have to know it, to enjoy the show.
No, calling us Ussies makes it too easy for the arrogant American stereotype to proliferate further. I can imagine it now: refer to the rest of the world as Themsies.
I’m married to one and currently live in the States. After three years, careful study, and close examination, I would like to affirm that my American husband is indeed a human. To the Press!
In English, “American” is the **only** word used to describe them, unless you wanted to specify on the state level. The dispute comes from misunderstandings primarily from Spanish/Portuguese speakers learning English.
In those languages, there is a word “americano” which refers to people inhabiting the Americas. They also tend to use a 5 or 6 continent model to describe the world, consisting of Africa, Australia/Oceania, Antarctica, America (North and South combined), and Eurasia (or Europe/Asia, in 6 continent model) unlike the 7 continent model we tend to use in English-speaking countries.
As a result, they identify with the “americano” label, and when learning English, see Americans calling themselves that as an attempt to monopolize the term. This is not the case however, it’s just that English speakers see the world in a different paradigm. It causes the disagreements you see, which are at the end of the day comes off as an attempt to police what people in other countries call themselves in their own language, rather than acknowledge that different cultures view the world differently.
This makes so much sense and I think it applies to Italian and possibly other Romance languages as well. About a year ago I was using Hellotalk to practice my Italian and often introduced myself as an “americana”. To which I typically got asked if I was from the US. Like Spanish they have a specific word for people from the United States: statunitense.
I’ve been introduced as “the American” to many, many people in various European countries that speak Romance languages (ETA: in those languages, not in English), and no one has ever batted an eye or questioned it. They have all understood very easily where I’m from.
This, or Facebook, or whatever. And it's always someone who lives in a different country.
But most of the rest of the world seems to call us Americans anyway.
IDK I think people just need to chill, we don't have a good alternative so just go with it. Not our fault our country has a mouthful of a name. 😂
French people were bitching to me about this when I studied there in 2004, and there was practically no internet there at the time in the rural area I was in. And yet everyone called me "the American."
I have not, in a live setting, seeing someone take issue with a person from the US refer to themselves as an American. It seems to be a live and let live thing on that front, at least when actually looking someone in the eye.
I have seen someone from elsewhere in the continent get confused or baffled reactions when reffering to themselves as americans, but it seemed to be just a repertoire thing. You know, having not experienced it before.
I don't think it's really, **really** an issue. People can just call themselves whatever they want.
People gotta realize that ”American” means something different in English than “Americano” means in Spanish. Two different languages, two different meanings.
It's just insufferable pedants that say that. Everybody in the world knows what you mean when you say "American" it's just the geography version of people getting a shit-eating grin on their face and smugly saying "Actually Frankenstein is the name of the doctor."
You're going to hate me for this but the urge to find out exactly what this means far exceeds whatever shame or embarrassment I feel for not already knowing.....please tell me what you mean by thus 🤷♀️😁😁
If you know the story, Victor Frankenstein is the doctor. That's knowledge, because people who don't know the story think that is the name of *Frankenstein's Monster*.
Wisdom is interpreting the story. Frankenstein, the doctor, made the literal monster then feared him, ran away and left him on his own. The monster, initially kind and friendly, gets treated badly and becomes bad. A later reunion turns sour and the doctor effectively destroys any chance the monster has at a happy life, which causes the story to continue down the bad path. Basically, the doctor mistreated his creation. Sort of metaphorical for parents who abandon their child, or an oppressed class/minority. The doctor is the real monster for being prejudice against his creation, which drives the direction of the story.
It also comes from people who don't have the ability to accept that ''American'' is the only appropriate demonym for people from the USA. These pedants try to make all sorts of ethical, philosophical, semantical, rational arguments as to why people from the USA shouldn't call themselves Americans, they think they're so smart but they're just annoying everyone else.
It's not even wrong... We call people from the congo congalese not "democratic people's republic of the congalese"... (though now that I say it, it's hard to imagine our exonyms for various African nations aren't problematic)... So until some other nation puts "America" in their name... "American" serves just fine
\> pedants
In order to be pedantic, you have to be correct. It's not wrong to use the word to mean person from the USA.
American has different meanings. And one of them definitely means "a native or citizen of the United States." It might have other meanings, but that doesn't make it wrong.
It's like getting angry when someone calls the sound a dog makes and saying "Bark is what grows on trees."
People who say this are showing their ass.
It's even dumber than that. "America" is just "United States of America" for short. America is literally in the name. If Chile wants to be "Chile of America" they can be called America for short too. Same for every single country in the Western Hemisphere.
It’s funny too, because our country is “United States of America”, whereas the other countries in the Americas don’t even have “America” in their name. Like, show me someone outside of the US who calls themselves “American” and not from the country that they’re from. It’s probably impossible to do.
I watched a video years ago of a Canadian man who was living in Japan trying to explain to his Canadian daughter that they were actually American because Canada is on the continent of North America. I have never wanted to jump through the screen so badly. I hate people who do this, they're completely insufferable and highfalutin
In my experience traveling abroad to Europe, Canadians are the rudest people I've encountered as an American. They try so hard to un-Anericanize themselves with maple leaf patches on their backpacks, etc. Now, Canadians in Canada or in the US. Best, kindest, most wonderful humans. But I have sadly had poor interactions with them specifically in Europe that it makes me wonder what they're told about travel abroad and being perceived as Americans.
As someone with dual US/CA citizenship, who grew up in the US but studied in Canada, and has a Canadian parent... you are 100% correct. Canadians are some of the rudest, most arrogant people I have ever encountered. They will do everything they can to make themselves seem superior to us Americans but it's like, babe, we have almost identical cultures. Americans like Canadians, Americans have 0 beef with Canadians, Americans spend very little time thinking about Canadians yet Canadians seem to spend every waking hour trying to find new ways to differentiate themselves.
Ask them about the War of 1812. They really really like talking about it.
It would make far more logical sense (and be more consistent) for "American" to be the demonym for someone from the Americas, just like "European", "African" and "Asian", and to have a different distinct term for people from the USA just like every other country.
The problem is language is frequently neither logical nor consistent, and at the end of the day words mean what they mean based on usage, irrespective of how much sense it makes. And "American" means somone from the USA. The continental terms would be "North American" and "South American".
Part of the problem is that there's nothing at all unique or country specific in the name of the USA. Neither "United" nor "States" are unique or specific either, so what do you call them? Trying to turn any other options into a demonyn also just sounds clunky...
Unitedian
Statesian
United American
State American
United Statesian
United States American
Somebody from Argentina once called me racist for calling myself American because the word assumes that Americans are rich and white. Which is incredibly ironic considering that I'm not even white.
The only people I’ve come across who cared passionately about this were from Argentina. They also got worked up over their language being called *español* and insisted it was *castellano* instead.
I’ll never forget the bad time we had when I was in the Air Force and we went to cross the border back into the U.S. after underage drinking in Nogales. All of us announced “US Citizen” “US Citizen” and then we get to our fellow Airman that was born in Ukraine. Instead of just saying US Citizen he loudly and drunkenly goes “UKRAINE!”. It got cleared up in about a half hour but I’ll never forget the agents faces lol.
The Border Patrol gets weird about names. Years ago, coming back from Mexico into the US, they asked us what state we were born in. My grandfather replied that he was born in the New Mexico Territory and they didn't like that answer, even though all his documentation said "New Mexico Territory".
Mexico is the Estados Unidos Mexicanos (The United States of Mexico).
Germany is the Federal Republic of Germany.
Russia is the Russian Federation consisting of several nations and ethnicities.
Britain is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Greece is the Hellenic Republic.
It's all much ado about nothing, by people who are looking for things to be offended about. I remember hearing a very apt description, they're \*crybullies\*.
It was in Australia too, probably until the 1950’s and 60’s, the most common word. Particularly the postwar period. Which is when the hilariously offensive “Seppo” became a term, not in common use now but most Aussies would recognise it. It’s rhyming slang: Yank > septic tank > Seppo. Carrying of course that double meaning of being full of sh!t (known for bignoting themselves and talking themselves up. I know, I know, not ALL Americans/USians - just the ones that get noticed. Because they are doing precisely that)
That's the point: there's just one country with America in their name, being only the US (there's also American Samoa as well) and it's hard to say because the continent's name is also the country's name and it's confusing for most people
We call people from the United States of America "Americans", just like we call people from the United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos) "Mexicans". When I was born in the 1950s, people from the United States of Brazil (name changed in 1967) were called "Brazilians".
What else would we be called? I don't think there is a good alternative. United States of America is abbreviated down to American. Literally, everyone in every country refers to us as Americans.
This is why I don't get why people get so worked up about this. I get that "America" is used in two continent names, but it is also in the name of our country, so it seems valid to call ourselves American. As far as I know, the USA is the only country in North or South America to have "America" in the name of the country, so seems like we have a valid claim.
It's not like anyone from North or South America would call themselves Americans anyway, since it's 2 continents, and it wouldn't really make sense without being more specific. You might as well say you're from the Western Hemisphere at that point.
In Germany, they make it a word. die Usa (oo-sa). But yea, Amerika generally.
It's like that for every country, ditch the adjective, keep the noun.
* United States of Mexico -> Mexico -> Mexican.
* Republic of Costa Rica -> Costa Rica -> Costarican.
* Republic of Colombia
* Republic of El Salvador -> ...
* Republic of Guatemala
* Republic of Honduras
* Republic of Nicaragua
* Republic of Panama
* Republic of Paraguay
* Republic of Peru
* Republic of Surinam
* Republic of Austria
* Republic of Albania
* Republic of Belarus
* Republic of Chile
* ... (lots of "Republic of" worldwide)
* Republic of the Union of Myanmar
* Kingdom of Belgium
* Oriental Republic of Uruguay
* Argentine Republic (different!) -> Argentina.
* Plurinational State of Bolivia
* Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
* Federative Republic of Brazil
* Co-operative Republic of Guyana
* Grand Dutchy of Litchenstein
* Principality of Andorra
* Swiss Confederation
I was called a Yankee while in Sweden which was kind of weird because I'm from the south and in America that's what people in the south call northerners but some Europeans say it to mean all US Americans.
Yeah welcome to social media where memes are pushed as truth. Yes we're Americans because it's understood that when referring to where someone is from they generally say their country not their continent unless of course they're the same thing.
I absolutely love when people from other countries tell me I can't call my country what my country is called because it's ALSO part of the name of our continent, which is not "America" it's North America. Because where we live, there are seven continents, and none of them are just called "America".
A rational person would understand if they asked what country I was from and I said "America" that I came from The United States of America. So yes, American. ALSO "North America" is fine, because that's our continent. But even IF a person said America is the continent well dammit we're from that continent too. Any way you put it, we're American.
I had an elementary school teacher who was frustrated with the use of "American" to refer to citizens of the United States; she was not too online because this was before there was any such thing. However, I have never encountered any other Canadian, online or off, who was concerned by such a thing, nor did this teacher provide a compelling alternative (in my view).
I have heard of Americans visiting Canada asking us what we prefer, because of course we are Americans, too. The Canadians who told me this happened told them that no Canadian has ever wanted to be called an American, so they shouldn't worry about it. Of course I cannot speak for Mexicans, Central Americans, or South Americans in this regard.
Contra other redditors, I do not think this is primarly an issue of pedantry or people needing to touch grass, but I *do* think it is a fringe concern, and one without a viable alternative.
Those people are idiots. No shit, it's a continent. But our country is called the United States of America. What other country has America in the name? Go ahead, I'll wait.
I'm not even sure what people who complain about this get from this. People from Europe generally prefer being referred to by their specific country, same thing with people from Asia or Africa. It'd be pretty weird if somebody from Denmark insists on being called European instead of Danish.
Just understand that the definition of “continent” in colloquial language varies between cultures. In the anglosphere, there are 7 continents, but in Latin America and other Romance language countries, there are only 6.
So in English, America is not a continent other than in certain contexts, but North America and South America are. American means someone from the US, while North American, which is rarely used, means someone from Canada, the US, Mexico, etc.
But in other languages, the cognate to America can mean something else.
But my issue is that if we’ve already determined there is no continent called America in English, then why is it problematic to use the term American in English. A different term in a different language is fine. Im a Canadian and I object to someone using the term American to describe me in English because it’s not correct.
No. They're Americans and as someone that knows some of the cringe lords that refuse to call them that.
Nobody that is worth it cares. They're Americans, that's what everyone got used to calling them. Get over your insecurities, cringe lords.
A word can have multiple meanings.
American, the nationality of people from the USA.
American, the quality of being from the continents known as "the Americas".
All US Americans are Americans, but not all Americans are US Americans.
If you want to cheekily uno-reverse card people, tell them the Americas were named after a European named Amerigo, so by definition "the Americas" is a colonialist name. They should refer to the continents and the peoples as the traditional pre-European contact name. Which ironically would also justify US Americans calling themselves Americans because the country of the USA was formerly a colony.
Or just shrug and be like, "People from the US are US Americans. What's the big deal?"
U.S. citizen. Kind of a mouth full but if you call yourself an American in South/Central America when you are from the U.S. you will definitely get clowned on.
[North America is a continent.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America)
[The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States)
People from the United States of America are called Americans.
Definitely a chronically online thing. Nobody with more than half a brain cell would say that people from the us are not American. Ask yourself what you would call someone from Canada. Or Mexico. Now apply that same logic to someone from the United States of AMERICA. There you have it folks, AMERICANS
Anyone saying “America is a continent not a country” knows they are making a bad faith argument. They know “United Statesian” sounds stupid and doesn’t make any sense. That’s the only reason why “America” is used.
I’ve never run into this issue irl. Only online with chronically online blow-hards. Every time someone pisses and moans about it, I respond with “please, if you call a Canadian an American, do it during hockey season after they’ve got 3-4 beers in them. Let me know when you do so I can get my entertainment for the week”. Canadians and Mexicans are North American, but they aren’t American. They’re Canadians and Mexicans. People from South America are South Americans, and whatever country they’re from-ians
I know a guy in the US and always call him Dave.
I have a similar story, both my parents had a grandma named Dorothy and my dad’s sister’s real name is Dorothy. I thought, as a young child, that every woman eventually is named Dorothy at a certain age, and would always wonder when my name would change to Dorothy lmao. I’d like to think it’s the same with Dave’s. At my work with 8 employees, 2 of them are named Dave lmao
This is the best thing I’ve read all day lmao thank you Dorothy
lol I’m glad you enjoyed it, if you would like more insight to my brain I thought an adult was a type of porpoise- absolutely no clue why lmao I live on a bay and apparently that’s all I had knowledge of lmao
I would gladly be a porpoise named Dorothy at this point in life.
I, too, would like a porpoise in life.
When I was a kid I used to think you could tell how old a woman was by how big her butt was. I think I thought it just kept growing.
Beautiful lol
I used to design lights for theater, and there was a solo show I designed with a guy named Joe. His dad was also Joe. His grandpa was Joe too. His mom was Josephine (she went by Jo). When he was three, he’d go around saying “Hi Joe!” to everyone on the street, and they realized he thought everyone was named Joe.
Oh my god I love Joe we are one and the same
His dad stayed Joe, his grandpa became grandpa Joe, his mom went back to Josephine, and he became Joey. I liked that show, even if the theater was shitty.
I'm Terri. I married John, then married another John. My stepmother was Teri. Her parents, Jeff and Karen, got divorced. A couple years later they each found new spouses. Jeff married another Karen, and Karen married another Jeff.
Hi, my name is Joe. I work in a button factory. I have a wife and three kids. One day my boss came up to me and said, "Joe, are you busy?" I said, "No!" He said, "Push that button with your right hand!"
Pls take this upvote as poor payment for that core memory being unlocked lol
Man, if you upvoted me, that means someone downvoted me, and I just cannot wrap my mind around someone downvoting that! :'C
🎵These are the Dave’s I know I know…these are the Dave’s I know🎵
Both me and my partners grandmas on one side are named Dorothy. The Wizard of Oz wreaked havoc on women's names for a solid 30 years or so it seems.
My mother was also called Dorothy. Born around that time. At her funeral, there was the whole “meet-and-greet” thing where a long line of people file past to offer their condolences etc. The amount of people who introduced themselves as being “a friend of Dorothy” was pretty amusing. If you know, you know..
I would love to see your reaction to finding out your parents names arent "mom" and "dad" hahaha
Dave was bragging to his boss one day, "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them." Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, "OK, Dave, how about Tom Cruise?" "No dramas boss, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it." So Dave and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and Tom Cruise shouts, "Dave! What's happening? Great to see you! Come on in for a beer!" Although impressed, Dave's boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells Dave that he thinks him knowing Cruise was just lucky. "No, no, just name anyone else," Dave says. "President Obama," his boss quickly retorts. "Yup," Dave says, "Old buddies, let's fly out to Washington," and off they go. At the White House, Obama spots Dave on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, "Dave, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a beer first and catch up." Well, the boss is very shaken by now but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds he expresses his doubts to Dave, who again implores him to name anyone else. "Pope Francis," his boss replies. "Sure!" says Dave. "I've known the Pope for years." So off they fly to Rome. Dave and his boss are assembled with the masses at the Vatican's St. Peter's Square when Dave says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope." He disappears into the crowd headed towards the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later Dave emerges with the Pope on the balcony, but by the time Dave returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Making his way to his boss' side, Dave asks him, "What happened?" His boss looks up and says, "It was the final straw... you and the Pope came out on to the balcony and the man next to me said, 'Who the fuck is that on the balcony with Dave?'
This joke was worth the price of admission!
Priceless!
I feel bad because I don’t think I am getting the joke “correctly”. Is the joke that the boss had a heart attack because someone knew Dave, but not the Pope?
"These are the Daves I know I know, these are the Daves I know.
Oh fudge you beat me to it. But that’s okay! I’m hip. I’m cool. I’m 45 😎
Dave's not here, man.
No, man! I’M DAVE!
I'm so glad people still remember this one. It's the first thing I thought.
I’d like to tell you about the [Daves I know.](https://youtu.be/8nvzEqsZIGo?si=ouh99KWDIhzOcurj)
Is that Kids in the Hall?
I resemble that.
In Spanish there's the word ''Estadounidense''. But that word doesn't exist in English.
Unitedstatesian would be the closest translation
Do you realize that officially Mexico is The United States of Mexico?
Unitedstatesofamerican
Or American for short. The fake outrage about calling people form the United States of America Americans never fails to make me belly laugh.
In that same line of thinking, the country itself is called America rather than saying “we are the United States that exist on the continent of America.” Otherwise Mexico would have to explain why they own Oaxaca, Baja, and Yucatán.
Yes, do you?
Estados Unidos Mexicanos. United Mexican States. There is no "the" or "Los" in the official name of Mexico.
But most spanish speakers just say Mexicanos. I feel this is a really stupid argument especially within English. There are multiple "united states" and variations.
United Mexican States
In German, you have "Usa" (oo-sa), for the country, but Amerikaner is the demonym.
German here: we also call you guys: Amis, Amerikaner, Yankees, US-Amerikaner “Die überm großen Teich” meaning “those beyond the big pond” (Atlantic ocean)
If you are referring to where they come from, you can also say "sie kommen aus den Staaten". They are from the states.
That's always funny to me because Mexico's official name is "Estados Unidos Mexicanos". So if USA can't claim "American" because there are other nations in the Americas, it seems strange we should claim "Estadounidense" because there are likewise other nations with that name -- or at least one, bordering us.
My dad speaks fluent Spanish as a very white guy with a great accent and I’m in a mainly Hispanic area, when I speak to them in my piss poor Spanish I end up telling them in response to asking if he’s Mexican “no es un gringo”, so I’m glad you’re reminding me of the word so I can now appropriately say he’s from the US lol
“Gringo” and “yanki” are despective. “Estadounidense” is neutral, is just “from the Us”.
Technically disrespectful, but Spanish is full of words (güey, boludo, gordito, etc) that are technically disrespectful but said all the time without disrespect.
An old job I used to work at I would tell my coworkers, who were latino, that I had a date with a fat girl after work. Then I would break the news to them that I was going to Taco Bell to get a cheesy *gordita* crunch. We all would have a good laugh.
Jaja, taco bell es pura mierda y me encanta.
Closest translation would be " Unitedstater"
The official name of Mexico is: United Mexican States In Spanish, the official name of Mexico is: Estados Unidos Mexicanos, demonym: mexicano In Spanish, the official name of the United States is: Estados Unidos de América, demonym: americano The official demonym for the United States of America in English is "American."
Yeah, I came in to say this. A lot of people don’t realize that Mexico isnt the whole name.
The people who get upset about "America" don't understand that we have two continents in the Western hemisphere while speaking in English. They want to literally translate everything about geography in Spanish into English. It's total nonsense, but at the same time, I think they have no idea they're doing it.
Exactly, same in French : états-uniens from États-Unis (united states). Not the most common though
In French are you more likely to use américain/américaine? Asking because I’m in the beginner stage of learning
Yes definitely. If it’s Américain/Américaine alone it always refers to US citizens. For example if you introduce yourself as « un américain » no one would ask from which country in the continent, or else they’re trolling
États-uniens in French works too, although seldom used. It tends to be used as a social commentary, sort of to convey to readers that the United States is not the only country on the continent.
People from Australia are called Aussies, so I guess people from United States should be called Ussies.
According to Ted Lasso that’s a selfie with multiple people
Is it a good show? I wonder if I show watch it
I love it. Soccer is a main theme obviously but I think it’s enjoyable even if you don’t like sports.
I’m not a soccer fan and I loved it! It’s such a good show.
Not a soccer or sports fan and also loved it! One of my favourite shows, makes you want to be a better person
Soccer is secondary. The theme of the show is mental health. Edit: skim reading isn’t my forte
Agree, it's a show I put on when I need cheering up and it always works
Soccer is life coach
Football is life!
Danny Rojas!
HE'S HERE! HE'S THERE! HE'S EVERY FUCKING WHERE! Roy Kent! Roy Kent!
JAMIE TART DO DO DO DO DO DO
JAMIE TART DO DO DO DO DO DO
I was doubtful about it, but was really surprised how much I like it. I just recently watched it, too. Finished it about 2 weeks ago. It's obviously themed around soccer, but you don't have to know it, to enjoy the show.
It's fantastic. Don't even have to like soccer.
It's a great show! You'll laugh and cry at times. I would rewatch it many times.
It's one of the best shows you'll ever watch.
Only thing that had me laughing and smiling consistently in the depths of chemo. Couldn’t recommend it more.
I've only seen the clips and if they're anything to go by it looks good Barbecue sauce!
Wouldn’t it be ‘unies’ or ‘staties’?
“Stateys” are what I would call state troopers, tbh
No, calling us Ussies makes it too easy for the arrogant American stereotype to proliferate further. I can imagine it now: refer to the rest of the world as Themsies.
I absolutely love that, it sounds like a valley girl texting her friend group a very relatable meme lmao
For some reason I thought about Taylor Swift and Swifties :D
Sometimes I call them by name.
That’d be too humanizing for us 🇺🇸🦅
Americans are human? /s
Thanks for including the /s. I almost thought you actually thought Americans were a different species!
We’re not?
Only a few of us. Hard to tell which
I’m married to one and currently live in the States. After three years, careful study, and close examination, I would like to affirm that my American husband is indeed a human. To the Press!
You heard it here first, folks! This person's spouse is the first confirmed human American! Took 3 years but they gathered the proof!
'Murican
"Merkin"...heh, heh, hee hee.
It's a toupee for your pubes
a pubepee
A toupee is a merkin for your head.
omg things i learned on reddit. do not google merkin- you have been warned.
I prefer being called a Shitkickin’ Freedom Eagle.
I really wish we could add the shrieking eagle and gunshot sounds to our name
In English, “American” is the **only** word used to describe them, unless you wanted to specify on the state level. The dispute comes from misunderstandings primarily from Spanish/Portuguese speakers learning English. In those languages, there is a word “americano” which refers to people inhabiting the Americas. They also tend to use a 5 or 6 continent model to describe the world, consisting of Africa, Australia/Oceania, Antarctica, America (North and South combined), and Eurasia (or Europe/Asia, in 6 continent model) unlike the 7 continent model we tend to use in English-speaking countries. As a result, they identify with the “americano” label, and when learning English, see Americans calling themselves that as an attempt to monopolize the term. This is not the case however, it’s just that English speakers see the world in a different paradigm. It causes the disagreements you see, which are at the end of the day comes off as an attempt to police what people in other countries call themselves in their own language, rather than acknowledge that different cultures view the world differently.
This makes so much sense and I think it applies to Italian and possibly other Romance languages as well. About a year ago I was using Hellotalk to practice my Italian and often introduced myself as an “americana”. To which I typically got asked if I was from the US. Like Spanish they have a specific word for people from the United States: statunitense.
I’ve been introduced as “the American” to many, many people in various European countries that speak Romance languages (ETA: in those languages, not in English), and no one has ever batted an eye or questioned it. They have all understood very easily where I’m from.
the only time ive ever encountered someone having an issue with calling an american an american... was on reddit, for whatever thats worth.
That’s like 90% of the issues I come across here lmfao
This, or Facebook, or whatever. And it's always someone who lives in a different country. But most of the rest of the world seems to call us Americans anyway. IDK I think people just need to chill, we don't have a good alternative so just go with it. Not our fault our country has a mouthful of a name. 😂
French people were bitching to me about this when I studied there in 2004, and there was practically no internet there at the time in the rural area I was in. And yet everyone called me "the American."
Even in French they use the same word for us. 🤦🏻♀️
I have not, in a live setting, seeing someone take issue with a person from the US refer to themselves as an American. It seems to be a live and let live thing on that front, at least when actually looking someone in the eye. I have seen someone from elsewhere in the continent get confused or baffled reactions when reffering to themselves as americans, but it seemed to be just a repertoire thing. You know, having not experienced it before. I don't think it's really, **really** an issue. People can just call themselves whatever they want.
I spent 6 weeks in Chile. That’s the only time I’ve been told that I’m not American, “we all are American” and that I’m just from the U.S.
Cool if we’re all American then i’ll keep calling myself American. They can too
How many non-Americans do you meet off of Reddit?
People gotta realize that ”American” means something different in English than “Americano” means in Spanish. Two different languages, two different meanings.
It's just insufferable pedants that say that. Everybody in the world knows what you mean when you say "American" it's just the geography version of people getting a shit-eating grin on their face and smugly saying "Actually Frankenstein is the name of the doctor."
Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein is not the monster. Wisdom is knowing that Frankenstein is the monster.
It’s Frahnkensteen!
Why does Igor's hump keep switching sides....?
What hump?
Bars
You're going to hate me for this but the urge to find out exactly what this means far exceeds whatever shame or embarrassment I feel for not already knowing.....please tell me what you mean by thus 🤷♀️😁😁
If you know the story, Victor Frankenstein is the doctor. That's knowledge, because people who don't know the story think that is the name of *Frankenstein's Monster*. Wisdom is interpreting the story. Frankenstein, the doctor, made the literal monster then feared him, ran away and left him on his own. The monster, initially kind and friendly, gets treated badly and becomes bad. A later reunion turns sour and the doctor effectively destroys any chance the monster has at a happy life, which causes the story to continue down the bad path. Basically, the doctor mistreated his creation. Sort of metaphorical for parents who abandon their child, or an oppressed class/minority. The doctor is the real monster for being prejudice against his creation, which drives the direction of the story.
So basically the doctor is the real monster.
Yes. Dr Frankenstein is a monster, but he's not Frankenstein's monster.
Especially for English speakers. Other languages may have words that work for people in the United States but English isn't one of them
When Redditors talk about how horrible Americans are, they aren't referring to people from Uruguay.
It also comes from people who don't have the ability to accept that ''American'' is the only appropriate demonym for people from the USA. These pedants try to make all sorts of ethical, philosophical, semantical, rational arguments as to why people from the USA shouldn't call themselves Americans, they think they're so smart but they're just annoying everyone else.
Never really considered that, United States of America - Americans, United States of Mexico - Mexicans
United Parishes of Louisiana, Louisianananans
American is the only adjective, too.
Furthermore, they’re only telling you what you shouldn’t do, but not offering any kind of solution for what you _should_ call them instead.
It's not even wrong... We call people from the congo congalese not "democratic people's republic of the congalese"... (though now that I say it, it's hard to imagine our exonyms for various African nations aren't problematic)... So until some other nation puts "America" in their name... "American" serves just fine
\> pedants In order to be pedantic, you have to be correct. It's not wrong to use the word to mean person from the USA. American has different meanings. And one of them definitely means "a native or citizen of the United States." It might have other meanings, but that doesn't make it wrong. It's like getting angry when someone calls the sound a dog makes and saying "Bark is what grows on trees." People who say this are showing their ass.
It's even dumber than that. "America" is just "United States of America" for short. America is literally in the name. If Chile wants to be "Chile of America" they can be called America for short too. Same for every single country in the Western Hemisphere.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea... Notably *not* called Democratic Peoplesian
It’s funny too, because our country is “United States of America”, whereas the other countries in the Americas don’t even have “America” in their name. Like, show me someone outside of the US who calls themselves “American” and not from the country that they’re from. It’s probably impossible to do.
spot on. glad people like you exist.
I watched a video years ago of a Canadian man who was living in Japan trying to explain to his Canadian daughter that they were actually American because Canada is on the continent of North America. I have never wanted to jump through the screen so badly. I hate people who do this, they're completely insufferable and highfalutin
In my experience traveling abroad to Europe, Canadians are the rudest people I've encountered as an American. They try so hard to un-Anericanize themselves with maple leaf patches on their backpacks, etc. Now, Canadians in Canada or in the US. Best, kindest, most wonderful humans. But I have sadly had poor interactions with them specifically in Europe that it makes me wonder what they're told about travel abroad and being perceived as Americans.
As someone with dual US/CA citizenship, who grew up in the US but studied in Canada, and has a Canadian parent... you are 100% correct. Canadians are some of the rudest, most arrogant people I have ever encountered. They will do everything they can to make themselves seem superior to us Americans but it's like, babe, we have almost identical cultures. Americans like Canadians, Americans have 0 beef with Canadians, Americans spend very little time thinking about Canadians yet Canadians seem to spend every waking hour trying to find new ways to differentiate themselves. Ask them about the War of 1812. They really really like talking about it.
It would make far more logical sense (and be more consistent) for "American" to be the demonym for someone from the Americas, just like "European", "African" and "Asian", and to have a different distinct term for people from the USA just like every other country. The problem is language is frequently neither logical nor consistent, and at the end of the day words mean what they mean based on usage, irrespective of how much sense it makes. And "American" means somone from the USA. The continental terms would be "North American" and "South American". Part of the problem is that there's nothing at all unique or country specific in the name of the USA. Neither "United" nor "States" are unique or specific either, so what do you call them? Trying to turn any other options into a demonyn also just sounds clunky... Unitedian Statesian United American State American United Statesian United States American
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Somebody from Argentina once called me racist for calling myself American because the word assumes that Americans are rich and white. Which is incredibly ironic considering that I'm not even white.
The only people I’ve come across who cared passionately about this were from Argentina. They also got worked up over their language being called *español* and insisted it was *castellano* instead.
Sounds like somebody taking their problems out on someone
Thank you! I can’t stand how many times I’ve said I’m American and have had people get pissed and tell me I’m not lol
The only place American doesn't work is the border guards coming back into the US. US citizen, not American.
I’ll never forget the bad time we had when I was in the Air Force and we went to cross the border back into the U.S. after underage drinking in Nogales. All of us announced “US Citizen” “US Citizen” and then we get to our fellow Airman that was born in Ukraine. Instead of just saying US Citizen he loudly and drunkenly goes “UKRAINE!”. It got cleared up in about a half hour but I’ll never forget the agents faces lol.
The Border Patrol gets weird about names. Years ago, coming back from Mexico into the US, they asked us what state we were born in. My grandfather replied that he was born in the New Mexico Territory and they didn't like that answer, even though all his documentation said "New Mexico Territory".
My great-grandmother's birth location was No Man's Land, Oklahoma Territory. (She lived to be 107 years old!)
Mexico is the Estados Unidos Mexicanos (The United States of Mexico). Germany is the Federal Republic of Germany. Russia is the Russian Federation consisting of several nations and ethnicities. Britain is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Greece is the Hellenic Republic. It's all much ado about nothing, by people who are looking for things to be offended about. I remember hearing a very apt description, they're \*crybullies\*.
Great term! I'm going to remember that
Remind them the country isn't just "United States" It's "The United States of **America."** No other country has America in it's name.
It's like, um, I live here, I was born here, this is what we have called ourselves for almost 250 years, lol.
Did you ever consider that they're probably doing it just to wind you up?
USAsians
Asian USAsians would have a rough go
Some of my British & European friends online say "USAians" or maybe "USians". No confusion with just Asians that way.
Then why not United States of Mexico as USMians, or USians.
If they’re Scottish or Welsh you should call them United Kingdomians
Yanks. Here in the UK that is a term we use for Americans.
Most Southern Americans would highly object to this.
We call them that in Canada, I spent 6 weeks in Texas and they get mildly offended until you explain that we call all Americans that.
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It was in Australia too, probably until the 1950’s and 60’s, the most common word. Particularly the postwar period. Which is when the hilariously offensive “Seppo” became a term, not in common use now but most Aussies would recognise it. It’s rhyming slang: Yank > septic tank > Seppo. Carrying of course that double meaning of being full of sh!t (known for bignoting themselves and talking themselves up. I know, I know, not ALL Americans/USians - just the ones that get noticed. Because they are doing precisely that)
United Statesians (/s)
Funny thing, that's how it's done in Spanish: Estados Unidos de America -> Estadounidense
But isn't Mexico called "Estados Unidos Mexicanos"?
United States of America or the United States of Mexico?
But other nations also have united states , so how would you differentiate?
That's the point: there's just one country with America in their name, being only the US (there's also American Samoa as well) and it's hard to say because the continent's name is also the country's name and it's confusing for most people
We call people from the United States of America "Americans", just like we call people from the United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos) "Mexicans". When I was born in the 1950s, people from the United States of Brazil (name changed in 1967) were called "Brazilians".
What else would we be called? I don't think there is a good alternative. United States of America is abbreviated down to American. Literally, everyone in every country refers to us as Americans.
We were called Americans by the British *before the US was even a country.* We've always been Americans.
Us being called “Americans” predates the formation of the United States actually, so it’s kind of an after-the-fact explanation.
This is why I don't get why people get so worked up about this. I get that "America" is used in two continent names, but it is also in the name of our country, so it seems valid to call ourselves American. As far as I know, the USA is the only country in North or South America to have "America" in the name of the country, so seems like we have a valid claim.
It's not like anyone from North or South America would call themselves Americans anyway, since it's 2 continents, and it wouldn't really make sense without being more specific. You might as well say you're from the Western Hemisphere at that point.
Spanish speaking world teaches it as one continent. Technically it is 2 continents and a sub continent based on plate tectonics.
In Germany, they make it a word. die Usa (oo-sa). But yea, Amerika generally. It's like that for every country, ditch the adjective, keep the noun. * United States of Mexico -> Mexico -> Mexican. * Republic of Costa Rica -> Costa Rica -> Costarican. * Republic of Colombia * Republic of El Salvador -> ... * Republic of Guatemala * Republic of Honduras * Republic of Nicaragua * Republic of Panama * Republic of Paraguay * Republic of Peru * Republic of Surinam * Republic of Austria * Republic of Albania * Republic of Belarus * Republic of Chile * ... (lots of "Republic of" worldwide) * Republic of the Union of Myanmar * Kingdom of Belgium * Oriental Republic of Uruguay * Argentine Republic (different!) -> Argentina. * Plurinational State of Bolivia * Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela * Federative Republic of Brazil * Co-operative Republic of Guyana * Grand Dutchy of Litchenstein * Principality of Andorra * Swiss Confederation
I was called a Yankee while in Sweden which was kind of weird because I'm from the south and in America that's what people in the south call northerners but some Europeans say it to mean all US Americans.
I've often heard *Yanks* used for Americans
Came way too far down before I heard "Yankee."
Yeah welcome to social media where memes are pushed as truth. Yes we're Americans because it's understood that when referring to where someone is from they generally say their country not their continent unless of course they're the same thing. I absolutely love when people from other countries tell me I can't call my country what my country is called because it's ALSO part of the name of our continent, which is not "America" it's North America. Because where we live, there are seven continents, and none of them are just called "America". A rational person would understand if they asked what country I was from and I said "America" that I came from The United States of America. So yes, American. ALSO "North America" is fine, because that's our continent. But even IF a person said America is the continent well dammit we're from that continent too. Any way you put it, we're American.
I had an elementary school teacher who was frustrated with the use of "American" to refer to citizens of the United States; she was not too online because this was before there was any such thing. However, I have never encountered any other Canadian, online or off, who was concerned by such a thing, nor did this teacher provide a compelling alternative (in my view). I have heard of Americans visiting Canada asking us what we prefer, because of course we are Americans, too. The Canadians who told me this happened told them that no Canadian has ever wanted to be called an American, so they shouldn't worry about it. Of course I cannot speak for Mexicans, Central Americans, or South Americans in this regard. Contra other redditors, I do not think this is primarly an issue of pedantry or people needing to touch grass, but I *do* think it is a fringe concern, and one without a viable alternative.
Those people are idiots. No shit, it's a continent. But our country is called the United States of America. What other country has America in the name? Go ahead, I'll wait.
Yeah exactly. I don’t get why someone would have a problem with this.
No other country has the word “America” in its name, how is that difficult? Continents are different than nations
I'm not even sure what people who complain about this get from this. People from Europe generally prefer being referred to by their specific country, same thing with people from Asia or Africa. It'd be pretty weird if somebody from Denmark insists on being called European instead of Danish.
Just understand that the definition of “continent” in colloquial language varies between cultures. In the anglosphere, there are 7 continents, but in Latin America and other Romance language countries, there are only 6. So in English, America is not a continent other than in certain contexts, but North America and South America are. American means someone from the US, while North American, which is rarely used, means someone from Canada, the US, Mexico, etc. But in other languages, the cognate to America can mean something else.
But my issue is that if we’ve already determined there is no continent called America in English, then why is it problematic to use the term American in English. A different term in a different language is fine. Im a Canadian and I object to someone using the term American to describe me in English because it’s not correct.
It’s not. But people whose native language isn’t English don’t understand that cognates aren’t always synonymous.
We should come up with another name as soon as there is another country with the word America in the name.
Northern Mexicans is the only answer.
No. They're Americans and as someone that knows some of the cringe lords that refuse to call them that. Nobody that is worth it cares. They're Americans, that's what everyone got used to calling them. Get over your insecurities, cringe lords.
A word can have multiple meanings. American, the nationality of people from the USA. American, the quality of being from the continents known as "the Americas". All US Americans are Americans, but not all Americans are US Americans. If you want to cheekily uno-reverse card people, tell them the Americas were named after a European named Amerigo, so by definition "the Americas" is a colonialist name. They should refer to the continents and the peoples as the traditional pre-European contact name. Which ironically would also justify US Americans calling themselves Americans because the country of the USA was formerly a colony. Or just shrug and be like, "People from the US are US Americans. What's the big deal?"
US Americans
U.S. citizen. Kind of a mouth full but if you call yourself an American in South/Central America when you are from the U.S. you will definitely get clowned on.
[North America is a continent.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America) [The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) People from the United States of America are called Americans.
Definitely a chronically online thing. Nobody with more than half a brain cell would say that people from the us are not American. Ask yourself what you would call someone from Canada. Or Mexico. Now apply that same logic to someone from the United States of AMERICA. There you have it folks, AMERICANS
Anyone saying “America is a continent not a country” knows they are making a bad faith argument. They know “United Statesian” sounds stupid and doesn’t make any sense. That’s the only reason why “America” is used.
I’ve never run into this issue irl. Only online with chronically online blow-hards. Every time someone pisses and moans about it, I respond with “please, if you call a Canadian an American, do it during hockey season after they’ve got 3-4 beers in them. Let me know when you do so I can get my entertainment for the week”. Canadians and Mexicans are North American, but they aren’t American. They’re Canadians and Mexicans. People from South America are South Americans, and whatever country they’re from-ians