Well, everybody born in the american continent is technically “american” too, including Central and South America. Is there a specific term in english for these people?
Edit: Thanks for all your answers, especially the wholesome ones and those patient enough to explain it thoroughly. Since we (South Americans) and you (North Americans) use different models/conventions of continent boundaries, it makes sense for you to go by “Americans”, while it doesn’t for us.
There is no such thing as “the American continent”. North America is a continent. South America is a continent. Central America is the region connecting the two. Collectively, these are “The Americas”, not “America”.
I cannot think of an adjective to describe someone born on a line extending from Anchorage to Cabo San Pablo.
Can you provide an adjective to describe someone born on a line extending from Oslo to Cape Town?
Which continent would central american countries then belong to?
To answer OP’s question, I’d say that US citizens are being referred to as “Americans”, because the name of the country is “United States of America”. Every other country on the north or south American continent has its own distinguished name, which can be used to refer to its citizens, e.g. “Canadians” or “Mexicans” etc.
Parts of Central America are on the North American plate, parts are on the South American plate. The dividing line between the two is the isthmus of Panama. Central America is a region, not a continent.
Similarly, Europe and Africa are two different continents, with the Mediterranean region between them.
I cannot think of a word to describe individuals from Europe, the Mediterranean, or Africa. I cannot think of a word to describe individuals from North, Central or South America.
That’s correct. Me neither.