We Should Call Our Home “The United States” Instead of “America”
In everyday conversations, it’s common for people from the United States to refer to their country as “America.” We grow up hearing it in patriotic speeches, popular music, and political discourse. It’s easy, it’s recognizable, and it has an emotional resonance. But is it the most accurate or respectful way to refer to our country? I’d argue that it’s not, and that we should shift toward using the term “the United States” more consistently. Here’s why.
First and foremost, “America” is not just a term for the United States. It is a term that encompasses much more. Geographically, America refers to an entire continent — or more accurately, two continents. The Americas include North America, Central America, and South America. Within North America alone, there are several sovereign nations, including Canada and Mexico. South of the United States, you have the rich diversity of Central and South American countries, like Guatemala, Brazil, and Argentina. All of these places have just as much claim to the word “America” as we do.
By referring to the United States simply as “America,” we risk erasing or marginalizing the existence of these other countries and peoples. It creates a false narrative that equates the United States with the entirety of the Americas, reinforcing a kind of linguistic imperialism. This usage can be seen as an extension of a mindset that centers the U.S. at the expense of other countries, subtly feeding into broader issues of dominance and exclusion.
Consider Canada, our neighbor to the north. It is part of North America, and Canadians don’t refer to their country as “America.” Similarly, when we think of Mexico, we understand it to be a distinct nation that is also part of North America. By referring to ourselves as “Americans,” we unconsciously exclude these nations from a regional identity that we share.
Then there’s the question of how this impacts our relationships with Central and South American nations. For many people in those regions, the term “America” holds a broader meaning, one that reflects a shared history and geography across the entire hemisphere. When we claim it exclusively, it can come across as dismissive or even offensive. People from Brazil, Colombia, or Chile are also Americans, in the broader sense. Yet they are often treated as outsiders to the term, when in fact they have just as much right to it.
By shifting our language to consistently refer to our country as “the United States,” we can demonstrate a greater respect for the other nations of the Americas. This change may seem small, but language shapes how we see the world and our place in it. It would encourage us to think of ourselves not as the owners of “America,” but as one part of a larger community of nations across the continents of the Americas. It promotes humility, inclusivity, and a more accurate reflection of the geopolitical reality.
In a time when international relations are as important as ever, how we speak matters. The world is interconnected, and we share our hemisphere with many other countries and cultures. The phrase “the United States” makes it clear who we are while allowing others in the Americas their rightful place in the conversation.
The truth is, words matter. We shouldn’t call our home “America” when there’s so much more to America than just the United States. It’s time to shift our language and recognize the diversity of the Americas, starting with how we name ourselves. Let’s honor the rich tapestry of people and cultures that make up this hemisphere, and claim our identity as citizens of the United States — not the entire continent.
