Thread: Why are they called Americans?

Originally Posted by English

I always thought that the Americas was the mass of land that consisted of North America and South America.
In the North you find two countries, Canada and The United States of America.
In the South you find many different countries from Mexico in the North of South America to Argentina in the South of South America
The inhabitants of Canada are called Canadians.
The inhabitants of Mexico are called Mexicans.
The inhabitants of Argentina are called Argentineans.
The inhabitants of The United States of America are called Americans.

Well that's the polite name anyway.
As an Englishman I always think of Americans as colonials. Because as I recollect we, The British colonized that land mass a few years back.

Anyway, I'm English I was born in England, I'm also British because I come from Great Britain and I'm also a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I am also a European. So beat that for confusing.

I think it was the Spanish who first colonized America, but of course there were inhabitants here long before the Europeans arrived who acted more civilized than modern civilization.

I consider myself a human and try not to affiliate with being an American because that just states where I currently reside.

Originally Posted by DSailing

I think it was the Spanish who first colonized America, but of course there were inhabitants here long before the Europeans arrived who acted more civilized than modern civilization.

I consider myself a human and try not to affiliate with being an American because that just states where I currently reside.

I consider myself a giant who smells the blood of an Englishman - be he alive or be he dead I'll grind his bones to make my bread.

When I was a kid visiting mexico I was always told to just say I was from the US, otherwise I could end up offending.

Originally Posted by DSailing

I think it was the Spanish who first colonized America, but of course there were inhabitants here long before the Europeans arrived who acted more civilized than modern civilization.

Yeah, but you know because the Portuguese king at that time denied to sponsor the Colombo's trip, he turned to the Spanish king and eventually found the North American continent using the Spanish flag.
That didn't stop the Portuguese to discover the South American continent and occupy half of that land that today goes by the name of Brazil.

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

As for the taller people, longer name thing? First time I've ever heard of it....but sounds like simply nonsense. My brothers are both taller than me and have shorter names

Alex, I've been in your country last year and I can tell you all that you dutch people are really tall! According to a recent European study, you're the tallest Europeans.

Originally Posted by Leon

Alex, I've been in your country last year and I can tell you all that you dutch people are really tall! According to a recent European study, you're the tallest Europeans.

I know that. But what was suggested was that people with longer names are taller....and THAT makes no sense.

As for tall people over here, I know all about that. I'm 6ft tall. (1,80m) and pretty much ALL my friends are taller and so are both my brothers.

I read the other day that the average lenght of Dutch women is 6 ft and that of Dutch men is somewhere around 6ft 2 inches.

People here are HUGE. When I go abroad I tend to feel quite tall....but then I come home and I'm a shorty again.

Originally Posted by Leon

Yeah, but you know because the Portuguese king at that time denied to sponsor the Colombo's trip, he turned to the Spanish king and eventually found the North American continent using the Spanish flag.
That didn't stop the Portuguese to discover the South American continent and occupy half of that land that today goes by the name of Brazil.



Alex, I've been in your country last year and I can tell you all that you dutch people are really tall! According to a recent European study, you're the tallest Europeans.

Nothing like a tall Dutch woman! Holy mackerel!

Originally Posted by geoffreyt

Nothing like a tall Dutch woman! Holy mackerel!

Exactly I saw six foot average and there was only one thought that came to mind "MOTORBOAT"