Cultures of Northwest Oregon
What to call people in the United States

What to call people from the United States

Perhaps the United States is the only country without a name for its people. There is no term such as "Unitedstatesian", "United Stateser", and so forth. Therefore, most people say "Americans". However, "Americans" is confusing because everyone from North America and South America is an "American".

The name of this country is "The United States", not America.

It's complicated

To make things worse, people in the United States have hundreds of different national backgrounds and represent hundreds of different cultures. Many prefer to be called something that reflects their mixed heritage; others want to forget their history or fear they will be discriminated against if others know their background. What to call someone depends on that person's choice.

Description of the person living in the United States
Identification he or she chooses

Born in Spain, came to the U. S. at the age of 7; U.S. citizen

American or Spanish-American or Hispanic

Born in Mexico, came to the U. S. at the age of 6; U. S. citizen

Hispanic or American or Hispanic-American or Latino or Mexican or Mexican-American

Born in the U.S. and has never left the U.S.; had parents or grandparents or great grandparents from from a Central or South American country or family

Hispanic or American or Hispanic-American or Latino or Mexican or Mexican-American

Born in the U.S. and has never left the U.S.; had parents or grandparents or great grandparents from from a Central or South American country or family

Hispanic or American or Hispanic-American or Latino

Born in Chile, came to the U. S. at the age of 6; U.S. citizen

Hispanic or American or Hispanic-American or Latino or Chilean or Chilean-American


Hispanic = from a Spanish speaking country or family, or had parents or grandparents etc. who spoke Spanish

Latino = from a Central American or South American country or family, or had parents or grandparents or great grandparents from a Central or South American country or family


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