The meaning of the word American in the English language varies according to the historical, geographical, and political context in which it is used. English speakers this usage is almost universal, with any other use of the term requiring specification. Elvis Presley was an American singer” or “the man prefers American English”. Compound constructions which indicate a minority ethnic group, such as “African-Americans” likewise refer exclusively to people in or from the United States of America, as does the american porridge “Americo-“.

These specific terms may be less common than the term American. United States, but may also refer to “the Americas”. Note that in normal parlance, the adjective “American” and its direct cognates are usually used if the context renders the nationality of the person clear. The respective guidelines of the foreign ministries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland all prescribe Amerikaner and amerikanisch in reference to the United States for official usage, making no mention of U. For referring specifically to a U. Spanish equivalent, apply to Canadians and Mexicans as well. United States, but this term can also denote people and things from Canada and Mexico.

Among Spanish-speakers, North America generally doesn’t include Central America or the Caribbean. In other languages, however, there is no possibility for confusion. For example, the Chinese word for “U. Conversely, in Czech, there is no possibility for disambiguation. The usage is exactly parallel to the English word. America is named after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

Italian explorer who mapped South America’s east coast and the Caribbean Sea in the early 16th century. In the 16th century, European usage of American denoted the native inhabitants of the New World. In English, American was used especially for people in British America. Samuel Johnson, the leading English lexicographer, wrote in 1775, before the United States declared independence: “That the Americans are able to bear taxation is indubitable. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. Done at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania the ninth day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Eight, and in the Third Year of the independence of America. The medicine of time and fact may cure some of them.