Well, everybody born in the american continent is technically “american” too, including Central and South America. Is there a specific term in english for these people?
Edit: Thanks for all your answers, especially the wholesome ones and those patient enough to explain it thoroughly. Since we (South Americans) and you (North Americans) use different models/conventions of continent boundaries, it makes sense for you to go by “Americans”, while it doesn’t for us.
“American” is the official name, though throughout history attempts have been made to find alternatives. You can read more on the Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonyms_for_the_United_States
Nonce term?? Does that mean something different where you are?
That sentence stumped me too, really weird wording. Apparently it means “rare, seldom used” in US English.
Edit: just checked Urban Dictionary and welp, I didn’t foresee the British slang meaning o_O
I’m british, so you can see my confusion!
I’m American, but I understand the slang meaning of nonce, and yeah… it’s a nonce term.
Usonian
I might start calling Americans Yankees
You will almost certainly annoy or piss off some Southerners (Those of the United States south of the Mason-Dixon Line, that is), then.
So definitely do it.
If you call people in the Southern US a Yankee it won’t end well for you.
Some British guy said something like,“I bet the yanks won’t like that” (Whatever it was, I can’t remember). I replied,“Hell, the confederates won’t like it much either” He was very confused.
Anyone that takes offense to being called a Yank is someone that would’ve been happily fighting for the Confederates during the Civil War. So fuck 'em.
Not necessarily - there’s also a MLB team with this name, so folks from different regions of the US may get pissed off/confused.
It just sounds weird to me personally, but I know it’s not an uncommon term in places like the UK/EU & I don’t take offense.
Depends on where the person using the term is from I guess?
You say that like I go outside
i invite them to travel to europe and try
I prefer yankers thank you very much
And Aussies take that another step further and say “Seppo” which is short for “Septic Tank”, which is rhyming slang for “Yank”.
Do it, it’s probably the best option really. Feel free to call us Yanks too. Unlike the others proposed it’s one where any of us will know what you mean
I’m definitely going to start using Usonian. It seems the most natural. We probably can’t use Colombian because… you know…that’s a country already haha
Probably a good idea to put some distance between the US and the tainted legacy of Christopher Columbus, too.
It’s with a U, Columbian. As in Washington, District of Columbia. Not like that makes it a name that would stick anyway