Why USA citizens call USA "America"?

I mean. Seriously, it doesn't help when you're trying to prove you're not an ignorant self-centered someone. AMERICA is a continent

2011-05-20T20:54:53Z

"America" or "Americas" is/are the continent that goes from aproximately Alaska to British Islands on the South.
Being that, I use to think than calling oneself "American" should be use to describe people of "America" or "The Americas", as well as "European" comes from "Europe" or "Asians" from "Asia".

2011-05-20T20:58:18Z

**Also, I do not know how "Americans" (meaning USA citizens) should call themselves, I think they have to decide that. It's just that, I am proud to be an AMERICAN, but I was not born in the USA, neither I have ever visited it. See the problem?

2011-05-20T21:16:51Z

***For those people who have problems understanding the basic concept of the question. See, there are different convention up to how many continents are there. If we consider the up-to-7-continents theory, then there is a North America and a South America. If we consider the up-to-6-contienent theory, there's only one big continen called "America" or "The Americas".
Still, I have to say that, for you people who call the argumente that: "There's NORTH America and SOUTH America", why do you think they are called NORTH and SOUTH?. Well probably because it's the same continent splitted in two. Am I clear?

Yeah Right2011-05-20T20:36:29Z

Favorite Answer

The word "America" is used so often because the word "American" is used so often. The word "American" is used to describe citizens of the United States because we do not have any other word to describe it: "United Statesian" does not exist as a word in English, as it does in Spanish ("estadounidense"). So we end up having to use the word "American" all the time. After using this word so often, using the word "America" kind of comes naturally. Although some of us realize that this is incorrect, we don't yet have the language to identify ourselves otherwise! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated though!

40

Alex2011-05-21T03:47:41Z

America isn't a continent either. There is North America and South America. So "America" is a combination of two continents, and since our country is the United States of America, all the states as a whole would also be called America.

20

Jean-Paul2011-05-21T04:01:10Z

Because we abbreviate our nations name from United States of America down to America. We are the only country that uses the actual word America in our full name. Besides when everyone else calls it America and if you say America people think of the United States then it is suiting to call the United States of America just America

10

Anonymous2011-05-21T03:53:55Z

No. NORTH America is a continent and so is SOUTH America.

Also, what do you think people from the US should call themselves? Statesians?

20

Anonymous2011-05-21T03:57:23Z

The United States of "America".
North "America".
Not everyone calls America "America". Some call this place "the states" (i.e. the UK and Australia).

20
Show more answers (2)

Trending Questions

Are White people genetically better than other races?10 answersWill black and white people ever get along?6 answerswhy are all Amazon Prime drivers either Hispanic or black?5 answersWhy has the black race not been successful? ?12 answersAre southern europeans. White?6 answers