Why do US Citizens call themselves Americans if America is the name of the continent?

[Yavin Shikanoko]

It's called United States OF America for a reason.

Time ago I heard a US guy talking about the word "Usonians" to describe the citizens of the US but the term never really took off.

[Devsman]

All I know is we should replace Columbus Day with Vespucci Day.

[Zara]

AMERICA!!!

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

cause its a mouthful of words and would waste a lot of time saying
9 syllables vs 4 sylaables

[mimizukari]

It's not as simple as you might think. You see, America is not really the name of the continent, but rather a name that was given to a part of the continent by a German cartographer named Martin Waldseemüller in 1507. He based his name on the first name of an Italian explorer named Amerigo Vespucci, who had explored the coasts of South America and claimed that they were not part of Asia, as Christopher Columbus had thought, but a new world. Waldseemüller thought that Vespucci deserved to have his name immortalized on the map, so he feminized it to America and applied it to the southern part of the continent. Later, another cartographer named Gerardus Mercator extended the name to include the northern part of the continent as well.

So, America was originally a name for a region, not a continent. And since the United States of America was the first independent country to emerge from that region, it adopted the name America as part of its official title. Over time, the name America became synonymous with the United States in many parts of the world, especially in English-speaking countries. That's why US citizens call themselves Americans, even though there are other countries and regions in the Americas.

Of course, this can cause some confusion and resentment among people who live in other parts of the Americas, who may feel that their identity and history are being ignored or appropriated by their northern neighbors. Some people prefer to use more specific terms, such as North America, South America, Central America, Latin America, or Caribbean to refer to different parts of the continent. Others use alternative names for the continent, such as Abya Yala (a term used by some indigenous peoples), Columbia (after Columbus), or Turtle Island (another indigenous term).

[Triple G]

Escrito originalmente por mochikaeru:

Turtle Island (another indigenous term).

So the real question, if we´re honest to ourselves, is: why do the Americans don´t call themselves Turtles? That´s way better imho...

[steven1mac]

Escrito originalmente por Triple G:

Escrito originalmente por mochikaeru:

Turtle Island (another indigenous term).

So the real question, if we´re honest to ourselves, is: why do the Americans don´t call themselves Turtles? That´s way better imho...

Because we are not happy together.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

united teenage mutant turtles

[Devsman]

Escrito originalmente por M͂͒̀λgi͡caℓ Ήo͓̽ﻇo̴:

Shh. The adults are talking.

Yes, we should definitely be the united teenage mutant turtles.

[Fajita Jim]

Escrito originalmente por M͂͒̀λgi͡caℓ Ήo͓̽ﻇo̴:

Americans r the babies of the world. very entitled and selfish. they think their rules of their ♥♥♥♥ country works with every other country.

You should study the history of the British Empire. Hell, up until just over a century ago, they even dictated to OTHER NATIONS how many warships they were allowed to have.

[Dracoco OwO]

Escrito originalmente por Yabin Koyōte ( ꈍwꈍ) ඞ:

It's called United States OF America for a reason.

Time ago I heard a US guy talking about the word "Usonians" to describe the citizens of the US but the term never really took off.

Because they think they own the place.

[Zara]

Escrito originalmente por M͂͒̀λgi͡caℓ Ήo͓̽ﻇo̴:

I travel for a living and nobody likes americans.
usa s the toilet of the world. honestly lol

Time for you to visit ✨The UK✨

If you thought the US was a social experiment, wait untill you visit here. It's a failed society.

[M͂͒̀λgi͡caℓ Ήo͓̽ﻇo̴]

Escrito originalmente por Fajita Jim:

Escrito originalmente por M͂͒̀λgi͡caℓ Ήo͓̽ﻇo̴:

Americans r the babies of the world. very entitled and selfish. they think their rules of their ♥♥♥♥ country works with every other country.

You should study the history of the British Empire. Hell, up until just over a century ago, they even dictated to OTHER NATIONS how many warships they were allowed to have.

I live in the UK

[Electric Cupcake]

Escrito originalmente por Fajita Jim:

Escrito originalmente por M͂͒̀λgi͡caℓ Ήo͓̽ﻇo̴:

Americans r the babies of the world. very entitled and selfish. they think their rules of their ♥♥♥♥ country works with every other country.

You should study the history of the British Empire. Hell, up until just over a century ago, they even dictated to OTHER NATIONS how many warships they were allowed to have.

The USA should have liberated Saint Helena and given letters of marque to it's population.

[Fajita Jim]

Escrito originalmente por Electric Cupcake:

The USA should have liberated Saint Helena and given letters of marque to it's population.

Isn't that the place they just sailed in with a warship and raised the Union Jack during the Falklands dust-up?

[Bad Aim]

Escrito originalmente por M͂͒̀λgi͡caℓ Ήo͓̽ﻇo̴:

Americans r the babies of the world. very entitled and selfish. they think their rules of their ♥♥♥♥ country works with every other country.

not knowing they live in a modern day police state 3rd world country mall with no free Healthcare.

I travel for a living and nobody likes americans.
usa s the toilet of the world. honestly lol

Nice attitude