Gentilicio

[laepelba]

I have always found it interesting to find out what one calls people from a certain place. In English, if you're from Buffalo, you are a Buffalonian. If you are from New York, you are a New Yorker. If you are from Michigan, you are a Michigander. Etc.

I am enjoying learning how some of these terms are used in Spanish: if you are from Lima: Limeño/a, etc.

A few days ago, my friend who is Limeña was telling me that people from Buenos Aires often call themselves "Porteños", and that these terms are called "gentilicio". She asked what the word is in English, and I don't believe that we have one.

Is there an equivalent or parallel English term? Or do we just say "what people from a certain place are called"?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Or do we just say "what people from a certain place are called"?

That's pretty much what the Oxford dictionary says.

[laepelba]

Do you have a link for that?

[pjt33]

No, I have a dead tree version.

[María José]

Apparently there is the word gentilic (but it's an adjective). I don't think it's very often used, though.
e.g. What are people from Madrid called? = What is the gentilic for Madrid?
Madrileño or gato.

[laepelba]

I have continued to research this and have found both "gentilic" and "demonym". I've never heard either word, and one reference mentioned that they're not really used anymore in contemporary English. Maybe they should be.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I have always found it interesting to find out what one calls people from a certain place. In English, if you're from Buffalo, you are a Buffalonian. If you are from New York, you are a New Yorker. If you are from Michigan, you are a Michigander. Etc.

I am enjoying learning how some of these terms are used in Spanish: if you are from Lima: Limeño/a, etc.

A few days ago, my friend who is Limeña was telling me that people from Buenos Aires often call themselves "Porteños", and that these terms are called "gentilicio". She asked what the word is in English, and I don't believe that we have one.

Is there an equivalent or parallel English term? Or do we just say "what people from a certain place are called"?

They are very proud of being an international sea port, that's what it means.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

They are very proud of being an international sea port, that's what it means.

Right - I knew that much. Isn't there also a city in Spain from which the people are called Porteños?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Right - I knew that much. Isn't there also a city in Spain from which the people are called Porteños?

I am not sure.

In Chile, people from Valparaíso se hacen llamar porteños, so I guess everybody, who lives by the sea, wants to be called like that...

[María José]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Right - I knew that much. Isn't there also a city in Spain from which the people are called Porteños?

I have never heard the word used for Spanish people, but one of the definitions of porteño according to the Real Academia Española is the following:
Natural de algunas de las ciudades de España y América en las que hay puerto

[xchic]

Originally Posted by María José

I have never heard the word used for Spanish people, but one of the definitions of porteño according to the Real Academia Española is the following:
Natural de algunas de las ciudades de España y América en las que hay puerto

That definition just reminded me that we often say that we are natives of somewhere.

For instance I'm a native of London or I'm a native Londoner.

[irmamar]

In Spain we have two "porteños": Puerto de Sagunto (Valencia) and Puerto de Santa María in Cádiz (portuenses or porteños).

[poli]

I corresponded with an Argentinian in this forum regarding the term Porteño. I wasn't sure which term Porteño or Bonaerence was
preferred. I was told that porteño can sound a little disrespectful. Nevertheless it sounds more graceful to me than Bonaerence.

[pjt33]

Es "bonaerense" con ese. (Y un ejemplo interesante del cambio de vocales según el estrés en español).

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

I corresponded with an Argentinian in this forum regarding the term Porteño. I wasn't sure which term Porteño or Bonaerence was
preferred. I was told that porteño can sound a little disrespectful. Nevertheless it sounds more graceful to me than Bonaerence.

It depends from where is the person. A Bonaerense will tell you proudly that he or she is porteñ@.

Although it can be used in an offensive way.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by pjt33

Es "bonaerense" con ese. (Y un ejemplo interesante del cambio de vocales según el estrés en español).

Según el acento o la zona en que se hable. Estrés es otra cosa.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Según el acento o la zona en que se hable. Estrés es otra cosa.

Estoy hablando de bonaerense vs Buenos Aires.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@pjt: Creo que sigue siendo "acento" (o derivación de las palabras). "Estrés" es tensión nerviosa.

[pjt33]

Pues eso. Gracias.

[laepelba]

Acabo de descubrir esta página: http://buscon.rae.es/dpdI/apendices/apendice5.html - con todos los países y sus capitales y muchos gentilicios........