Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| americano | /a.me.riˈka.no/ |
| statunitense | /sta.tu.niˈtɛn.se/ |
The term is used to describe things pertaining to the U.S., such as culture or food, and to identify people from the United States. It can also be used as a noun to refer to an inhabitant of the Americas or a citizen of the U.S.
Which one should you use?
While americano is the common term for someone or something from the U.S., statunitense is a more specific term that means "from the United States." Additionally, nordamericano is a formal term that refers to anyone from North America, which includes both the United States and Canada.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective americano must match the gender of the noun it describes. Use americana for a feminine singular noun. For masculine nouns or mixed-gender groups, the plural form is americani.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has five syllables, with the stress on the fourth syllable: /a.me.riˈka.no/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to assume americano only refers to the United States. In Italian, it can also refer to anyone from the American continents (North or South America).
When do people say it?
The term italoamericano is used specifically to refer to Italian-Americans.
Did you know?
- If you order a caffè americano in an Italian bar, you will receive an espresso diluted with hot water to make it a larger and milder drink.
- In Italian, the word americano can be used as a noun to refer to a classic cocktail made with Campari and sweet vermouth.
- The term statunitense is a portmanteau combining the words Stati Uniti and the suffix -ense.
Examples in context
- Lui non è americano.He is not an American.This sentence is useful for stating that a male subject is not an American.Tatoeba #702487 by Guybrush88, translation #288860 by CH
- Chen non è americano.Chen is not American.This sentence is useful for stating that a person is not American.Tatoeba #4158162 by Guybrush88, translation #1098153 by cntrational
- Amo il cibo americano.I love American food.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for American food.Tatoeba #1254539 by Guybrush88, translation #1230787 by CK
- Sono americanoI am American
- Quell'uomo è statunitenseThat man is from the United States
- Sono nordamericanoI am North American
- Mia madre è nordamericanaMy mother is North American
- Sei un vero yankYou're a true Yank
- Gli americani sono simpaticiAmericans are friendly
- 151 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are discussing a movie they just watched.
- FrancescoTi piace questo film americano?Do you like this American movie?
- ChiaraSì, lo stile è molto interessante.Yes, the style is very interesting.
- FrancescoIl regista è americano o canadese?Is the director American or Canadian?
- ChiaraCredo che sia americano.I believe he is American.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “american” translations and entries americano, statunitense, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries americano, statunitense, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
