South Americans are Americans too

Last Updated: 2026-06-06

Yeah, no. You’re not. (Affectionate)

In preparation for our trip to Brazil, my wife reminded me that I am not an American, I am a United-States-ian. People from South America are Americans too. This is a sentiment we both heard a lot in Uruguay back in 2019, so I didn’t argue. When it has come up, I say I am from the United States rather than simply claiming to be an American. This sentiment has always felt silly to me, but hey, when in Rome, right?

Well, it turns out my wife was wrong and, in a childish way, I feel vindicated. Every time my father-in-law has introduced me to family, he has always called me an American and none of the family has made the slightest comment to the contrary, as compared to Uruguay where anyone and everyone were very quick to correct me. When I teased my wife about it, she realized that she also hadn’t heard of the idea that all South Americans are Americans until she had visited Uruguay.

I don’t know if it is just Uruguay or all the Spanish-speaking South American nations that hold this sentiment, but it seems that Brazil, or at least the small part with which I have interacted, does not and I am grateful. I don’t fully know why, but claiming South Americans are Americans is one of my irrational pet peeves.

Please know that this does not come from a place of belittling South Americans. I am trilingual. I lived in Uruguay for over a year. I am married to a Brazilian. I recognize and respect the depth and breadth of culture between and within each nation in Central and South America. I am also aware of the United States’ heavy handed involvement in South American nations, both public and illicit. I can appreciate wanting to push back against the guy with The Big Stick, but does making the conversion awkward with some dweeb really do anything?

It feels incredibly pedantic to me to claim South Americans are Americans too. No one has ever misunderstood where I am from when I say I am an American; the same cannot be said the other way around. I have also never heard someone from South America introduce themselves as American; the sentiment only comes up when I say it. Forcing me to spell it out is obnoxious.

Regardless of your feelings on the matter or your perception of me when I claim my nationality, when I say I am American, you know exactly which country I am from, what my President’s name is, and probably have an opinion about both. How many people know your president or care about your country’s politics outside of your own country?

Despite being similar in physical size, Uruguayhas half the population of my home state ofWashingtonand only a tenth of it’s GDP. And that’s just one of fifty states! Is this a fair or reasonable comparison? Probably not, but it supports my argument so I’m rolling with it. The whole “South Americans are Americans too” sentiment feels like a short man compensating with a big truck or that obnoxious kid in school that puts technically correct above all else. I would hazard a guess that Brazil is big enough, both culturally and politically, to not feel the need to push the “who is American” thing.

To those who hold onto this idea, why? Are you trying to jab at the bully on the block? If so, why are you aiming that at me? I have my own frustrations with my country and I’m already doing what I can to fix it. Stop jabbing me, specifically. Is it an envy of my nation’s geopolitical position? Do you really want to associate yourself with the US that badly? Personally, I avoid announcing my nationality as best I can (and I do pretty good at it, since I speak Portuguese with a Spanish accent, or so I am told) when I am over seas. For you, US politics and international action is a spectator sport, waiting to see how our decisions will affect you. As a citizen I am the one in the arena armed with the rights to vote, lobby, and protest. While my influence is limited, I still feel a certain responsibility for what my country does on the world stage. Let me do what I can and stop harassing me about who gets to be called American.

If anyone reading this has a meaningful response, please feel free to reach out. My email can be found at the bottom of the website. I probably won’t change my mind, as I am stubborn man. But new perspectives are always valuable and bring depth to the world.

All the best, Akelas