[ahi]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

When we in Europe talk about 'Americans' we generally mean people from the U.S.; although anyone in South, Central or North America is also an American.

I often wonder - do non-U.S. Americans mind us using 'American' in that way?

Yes, they do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_f...lternate_terms

The fact that citizens of the United States call themselves "Americans" causes discomfort for many Latin Americans, who see it as an appropriation of the collective identity of all peoples and countries of the Western Hemisphere. However, this usage has historical roots.