Why do we call the US America?

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by UofMfan

Yes we do. Meaning, those of us who live in the other Americas do hate the US for this.

I currently reside in South America (not Brazil though), and have made that mistake a few times, mainly due to the 25+ years that I lived in the States, shame on me!

It is arrogant, ignorant, rude and dismissive. It mainly comes from the feeling of entitlement/privilege that most US citizens share.

I grew up in Argentina, the HATE it that people from the US think they (we) are the only Americans.

Originally Posted by Bit

I think it's because people in Europe were used to calling it "America" long before there were any independent countries here, and all the other countries took different names... but since we were already being called "America," when the official name became the United States of America people just continued to use the shorter "America" out of habit.

I also think that our government over the past couple hundred years has been rather... arrogant (Manifest Destiny, anyone?)... and has probably encouraged this. Certainly in modern times our media and popular entertainment industries have encouraged it.

Agreed! very arrogant.


When I visit Europe today, they say the US.

Expats say "the States"

Brazil is also "The United States of Brazil" , so it can be confusing?

Originally Posted by apretty

i say US. (as in, you-ess)

i think referring to 'america' sounds less than informed. for example: "this is america: _______(fill in the blank)/you need to speak english!/etc"

maybe it's regional.

I say it like you do, I think it is an important distinction.


Oh and "this is America, so you should".... is so incredibly arrogant there are no words.....

Thank you for mentioning that!

I don't automatically assume people who say America for the US do it on purpose, I try to think that maybe they have not thought about it?