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.

  • Corroded@leminal.space
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    1 year ago

    Yankee (or Yank) is a colloquial term for Americans in English; cognates can be found in other languages. Within the United States, Yankee usually refers to people specifically from New England or the Northern United States, though it has been applied to Americans in general since the 18th century, especially by the British.[26] The earliest recorded use in this context is in a 1784 letter by Horatio Nelson.[26]

    I might start calling Americans Yankees

    • TheDoozer@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      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.

      • sin_free_for_00_days
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        1 year ago

        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.

      • Ech@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        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.

        • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          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?

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      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

    • JackFrostNCola@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      And Aussies take that another step further and say “Seppo” which is short for “Septic Tank”, which is rhyming slang for “Yank”.