American (USA)

[poli]

Sure, gringo works, but...
Americano is simple and gets the point across.
Estadounidense is more a more educated, worldly, specific, but it's an awkward word.
An analogy would be:
Black is to americano
what African-American is to estadounidense.
Really both are OK. The second one is more specific, educated but cumbersome. Personally I prefer the second.

[ZeroTX]

Escrito originalmente por poli

Sure, gringo works, but...
Americano is simple and gets the point across.
Estadounidense is more a more educated, worldly, specific, but it's an awkward word.
An analogy would be:
Black is to americano
what African-American is to estadounidense.
Really both are OK. The second one is more specific, educated but cumbersome. Personally I prefer the second.

If that's the case, it backs up my theory that I'm American (Americano). I think the term "African-American" is retarded political-correctness rhetoric with no basis in reality. If blacks are "African-Americans" then what is everyone else? Are we going to tag the continent of origin in front of every person's ethnicity? That's ridiculous.

I'm a white American with Hispanic family roots, which go back to Spain. That doesn't make me a Spanish-American. I'm just an American...

-ZeroTX

[chileno]

Escrito originalmente por CrOtALiTo

I believe that the word American is most said in my country, but anyway there is a word most said for the people, and the word is Gringo.

For example.

Who was the gringo that entered yesterday to the victor's party.

I hope this don't offend anyone.

In Chile, almost all blondes are called gringos/as

As well as, Anybody from Europe including Russians, excepting Spaniards and Italians, and maybe French

.

[Elaina]

They used to say that the word "gringo" was born when Mexico was being invaded by American soldiers. The soldiers wore green uniforms so the Mexicans would say......

green go (They wanted the Americans to leave Mexico) and this is how the word "gringo" was born.

Don't kill the messenger!

[brute]

Escrito originalmente por CrOtALiTo

I believe that the word American is most said in my country, but anyway there is a word most said for the people, and the word is Gringo.

For example.

Who was the gringo that entered yesterday to the victor's party.

I hope this don't offend anyone.

I always used to think that gringos were N Americanos who sat around their campfires singing "Green g(r)ow the rushes o", but it seems I was wrong. The latest thinking is that it is a corruption of griego, Greek, an incomprehensible language as in "Its all Greek to me." So you must not call the USA people Gringos as this could place them in the Mediterranean. Although we love them dearly, we do not really want them in Southern Europe as well.

A Limey

[CrOtALiTo]

Escrito originalmente por brute

I always used to think that gringos were N Americanos who sat around their campfires singing "Green g(r)ow the rushes o", but it seems I was wrong. The latest thinking is that it is a corruption of griego, Greek, an incomprehensible language as in "Its all Greek to me." So you must not call the USA people Gringos as this could place them in the Mediterranean. Although we love them dearly, we do not really want them in Southern Europe as well.

A Limey

Yes. I can understand you motive of thus feeling in that commentary, but really I know that the word Gringo exist above all because the U.S.A people since arrived to Mexico it were spook of thus way that the idiom were adopted time before.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Hernán: ¡eres un provocador profesional!

I can't have an opinion on personal choices. Having the citizenship of the country where you're living is to me a natural alternative.

Talking about the "gentilicio" itself, Rusty has stated a very objective linguistic point of view, which I subscribe to on principle. Personally, I have always preferred "estadounidense" and "US American", but I'm not prejudiced against someone else using "americano" and "American".

[laepelba]

Escrito originalmente por AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Hernán: ¡eres un provocador profesional!

I can't have an opinion on personal choices. Having the citizenship of the country where you're living is to me a natural alternative.

Talking about the "gentilicio" itself, Rusty has stated a very objective linguistic point of view, which I subscribe to on principle. Personally, I have always preferred "estadounidense" and "US American", but I'm not prejudiced against someone else using "americano" and "American".

First of all - I totally agree with your first statement!!

Second - isn't it interesting that he refuses to comment until YOU have commented. Must be nice to be Angelica these days....

[laepelba]

So, let me stir up the pot a bit. Especially since I'm going to be traveling in Spanish speaking countries this summer... When people native to a Latin American country are speaking amongst themselves, and they say "americano/a" ... they're typically referring to someone from the Western Hemisphere, right? North or South America? But if they specifically use the term estadosunidense, they are referring to someone from the USA, with the implication that the person is Anglo or gringo?

I am well aware that my "gringo-ness" will be apparent when I'm in Lima and Uruguay this summer. But I really want to avoid the ignorant/arrogant errors that so many gringo's make when interacting with cultures abroad....

[chileno]

Escrito originalmente por laepelba

So, let me stir up the pot a bit. Especially since I'm going to be traveling in Spanish speaking countries this summer... When people native to a Latin American country are speaking amongst themselves, and they say "americano/a" ... they're typically referring to someone from the Western Hemisphere, right? North or South America? But if they specifically use the term estadosunidense, they are referring to someone from the USA, with the implication that the person is Anglo or gringo?

I am well aware that my "gringo-ness" will be apparent when I'm in Lima and Uruguay this summer. But I really want to avoid the ignorant/arrogant errors that so many gringo's make when interacting with cultures abroad....

Estadounidense will do nicely. (Without the "s")

Usually nobody speaks of americanos, unless the conversation drifts to talk about the Americas. So, yes. You are correct. And do not worry, I am sure that if you inflict some unintentional damage, people will steer you in the right direction with an appropriate recommendation.

Do not be afraid to stick you foot in the mouth... it is only human. And we Latins love humans.

Someone, Poli or Tacuba, mentioned that Mexicans have the tendency to place nicknames to people... flaco , gringo etc...

Let me assure you that is not only Mexican...

I think all of Latin America. I am not sure about Spain, though... Sosia or Bolboreta will be able to clear this.