Maybe this is a regional thing but I’ve always called it the US

  • NarrativeBear@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    To add to the confusion. The Americas (or America) comprise the landmasses of North and South America in the Western Hemisphere

    People living in North and South America (or the Americas) can also be called American or Americans if the were referring to the landmass.

    Strangely the United States IMO is the only country that seems to indicate the landmass its situated on when using the full name, the United States of America. Not to mention the indication of a union of individual states as well.

    Several single-word English demonym alternatives have been suggested over time, for example Columbian, Columbard, Fredonian, Frede, Unisian, United Statesian, Colonican, Appalacian, Usian, Washingtonian, Usonian, Uessian, U-S-ian, Uesican, and United Stater.

    Saying someone is a United Statesian or Statesian is probably the closest to how other countries like Canada (Canadian) or Mexico (Mexican) refer to themselves. If we forget that pretty much all other countries are a unity of states, counties, and or provinces.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonyms_for_the_United_States

    • WildPalmTree@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      You do know it is actually named “the United Mexican States”, right? The name of the US is simply bad from the beginning and sometimes you can’t fix bad. Unless they take over all of the Americas, I guess. Then it’s a good name. Bad move, but good name.

      • NarrativeBear@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        I do, most countries are a unitity of states, counties, or provinces.

        It would be so confusing if Mexico never settled on a name for its united states and called themselves the United States of America

        • WildPalmTree@lemmy.world
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          1 hour ago

          "Saying someone is a United Statesian or Statesian is probably the closest to how other countries like Canada (Canadian) or Mexico (Mexican) refer to themselves. If we forget that pretty much all other countries are a unity of states, counties, and or provinces. "

          I was refering to this part of your post. United Statesian or Statesian doesn’t make sense to correlate to Mexicans. They are both united states. As for Canada, I think they might be a confederacy and thus united states as well, but I also believe their semi-official name is actually Canada.

          As for most countries being united of sorts, I’m willing to accept that as an axiom, but I’m doubtful it is part of their cultural identity in the majority of cases. Maybe on a per capita basis.

    • Thats’s cuz English Language sucks.

      In Chinese Language for example: A 美人 (American (Country)) and a 美人 (American (Continent)). But in English both are “American”.

      Also so many syllabels converying so few info.

      Literally 4 syllabels for “American”

      But “美國人” or “美洲人” are both 3 syllabels and already contains [America-Country Person] or [America-Continent Person]

      Sorry, no offense to English speakers, but as a polyglot, I just had to comment this xD

      • FishFace@piefed.social
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        9 hours ago

        All languages convey information at roughly similar rates. Those with less information per syllable tend to say more syllables per minute. It’s a fascinating area of linguistics!

        All natural languages have ambiguities where the meaning of a word depends on context due to changes over time.

    • EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com
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      12 hours ago

      Several single-word English alternatives have been suggested

      Some of these make sense, but several of them would only refer to a specific area in the U.S. (e.g. Washingtonian) or are really out of left field (e.g. Fredonian).