Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| estadounidense | /esˌtadouniˈdense/ | |
| norteamericano | /noɾteameɾiˈkano/ | |
| yanqui | /ˈʝanki/ | colloquial |
| gringo | /ˈɡɾinɡo/ | |
| usamericano | /usameɾiˈkano/ | uncommon |
| grencho (despective) | colloquial, euphemistic |
These terms are used to describe people, culture or things pertaining to the United States.
Which one should you use?
The term estadounidense is a neutral way to specifically refer to the United States. In contrast, the word americano (or its feminine form americana) refers to an inhabitant of the Americas. Using americano to mean someone from the U.S. can be ambiguous. Norteamericano is another option. The form usamericano is uncommon. Yanqui and gringo are colloquial terms, while grencho (despective) is a colloquial, euphemistic term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Estadounidense is the standard, neutral term. Gringo and yanqui are colloquial. gringo can be used neutrally in some regions but is perceived as derogatory in others, while yanqui is often seen in political contexts or media. grencho (despective) is a colloquial and euphemistic term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, particularly in South America, norteamericano is used to refer to an American.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word estadounidense is an invariable adjective for gender, meaning it stays the same whether referring to a man or a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˌtadouniˈdense/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using americano to mean a person from the U.S… In Spanish, this implies they are from the entire American continent. Use estadounidense instead to ensure clarity.
When do people say it?
The term americano can also translate to coffee with hot water.
Did you know?
- The word gringo is often thought to come from 'Green Go Home', but linguists believe it more likely evolved from the word griego, meaning 'Greek', used to describe someone whose speech is unintelligible.
- Be careful with the word americano, as it can also be used as a common way to refer to a cup of coffee served with hot water.
- The term yanqui is a direct loan from the English word 'Yankee', which originally came from Dutch.
Examples in context
- Él no es estadounidense.He is not an American.This sentence demonstrates a negative statement using estadounidense.Tatoeba #523623 by Shishir, translation #288860 by CH
- No parece ser estadounidense.He doesn't seem to be an American.This sentence shows how to express an observation about someone being estadounidense.Tatoeba #5041122 by don_ramon, translation #67487 by CK
- Él debe de ser estadounidense.He must be an American.This sentence illustrates a deduction about someone being estadounidense.Tatoeba #597659 by Shishir, translation #303541 by CK
- ¿Eres americano?Are you American?
- Ella es mexicana, y él es estadounidense.She is Mexican, and he is American.
- 99 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a new movie at a cafe.
- LucíaMe gusta mucho la cultura estadounidense.I really like American culture.
- Javier¿De verdad? A mí me parece un poco aburrida.Really? I find it a bit boring.
- LucíaPues, mi primo es estadounidense y le encanta.Well, my cousin is American and he loves it.
- JavierCada quien tiene sus gustos.To each their own.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “american” translations and entries estadounidense, norteamericano, yanqui, gringo, usamericano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries estadounidense, norteamericano, yanqui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
