why can we call a British person a Brit, an American Person a Yank, a German person a krout, but Pakistani noo
101980
For the same reason that the African Americans take offense to being called Niggerz. It's usage more than etymology that offends, even if that usage is purely historical.\n\nAlso, I don't think there are too many Germans who'd be too happy about being called Krauts.
1055762
The name of the country Pakistan has a fascinating history - it is essentially an acronym.\n\nPrior to 1947, the country now known as Pakistan was a British colony. In 1947 the United Kingdom granted independence to the region under a new name, Pakistan. The name had been developed by a group of students at Cambridge University who issued a pamphlet in 1933 called Now or Never. They came up with the term "Pakistan" as "composed of letters taken from the names of our homelands: that is, Punjab, Afghania [North-West Frontier Province], Kashmir, Iran, Sindh, Tukharistan, Afghanistan, and Balochistan. It means the land of the Paks, the spiritually pure and clean."\n\nAlthough the suffix "stan" means country in Hindi and Persian, the students were able to fit the names of homelands to create an appropriate country name
1159632
I'm Canadian. Under no circumstances would I call myself American.\n\nAnd the name "Europe" is becoming synonymous with the European Union, and so for example including Ireland and excluding Switzerland. (Although it's true that the Swiss would be more likely to call themselves "Europeans" than the Irish would.)\n\nAnd while you're at it, I know a fair number of US citizens (some who have no other citizenship) who were NOT born in the USA.
263174
I just want to correct the previous answer. Britons were not a Germanic tribe. The name refers to speakers of a group of Celtic languages called Brythonic. Britons were Celts. Towads the end of the Roman occupation there were settlements (invasions ) of germanic Peoples  Angles, Saxons, and Jutes that settled what is now England pushing the Britons (Celts) into Wales, Cornwall,  and Scotland.
731074
I guess I should be called then African German?  Never heard that one before.  But I don't mind either African American or black, I usually use black.  I don't know what the big problem is for white people to call us black?  We call you white (even though you are more light-pinkish) and we are not really black but different shades of brown, so what's the big issue?\nWhite people, it is not a crime to say "Black" or "African American".  Just don't call us "Colored" people, we are not in the 60s.  That's all.  I always have to laugh when white people look at me and ask me, is it ok if I say "African American" or black.  Please, come on, do black people really get upset about that?
981232
Anglo is used primarily in direct contrast to Hispanic or Latino. In this context it is not limited to persons of English or even British descent, but can be generally applied to any non-Hispanic white person. Thus in parts of the United States with large Hispanic populations, an American of Polish, Irish, or German heritage might be termed an Anglo just as readily as a person of English descent. However, in parts of the country where the Hispanic community is smaller or nonexistent, or in areas where ethnic distinctions among European groups remain strong, Anglo has little currency as a catch-all term for non-Hispanic whites.\ngoodluck ^_^
708611
The brits hate americans because in britain they have a "class system" which in america there is also a class system but its alot more prevalent in the UK. The brits instictively want to find out what a persons class system is when they start a conversation and this same need follows them everywhere. A brit wants to feel superior to an American but the problem with the UK is that it has alot of very poor brits. The US has alot of money so brits will throw their "culture" at americans as fast as they can so the can feel they're a higher "class" even if they're a lower class brit.
575587
Piano, you are a wuss. Britian and America are hand-in-hand when it comes to world conquering! Which country owns the most land across the entire globe? Why, Britian, of course! We are allies and comrades. Way to try to paint a rosy picture, hoping everyone else remains ignorant!\n\nTo answer the question: We are just defending ourselves. If someone with a red hat and a cane walked up and kicked you in the gonads, wouldn't you be leery of people in red hats with canes from that point forward? Think about it.
904308
It is a British term of endearment.
519774
I am an American and I like all sorts of people, I may damn well even know a Palestinian or two.  I just don't go around asking people where they are from so I can be a bigot and judge whether or not I am going to be nice to them based on the origin of their bloodline.\n\nI wish folks would quit trying to squeeze others into boxes, please be sure to ask all the other Americans before you make a judgment call like this again.  Thanks.
418994
Well not really on actual spellings, however some "Americanisations / Americanizations" come from the original English.  In fact the Word "Yankie" is a mis-nomer and actually was the ameri-indian word for "British Person".  Anyway, what i mean is Fawcet and Sidewalk were the original "English" words (amongst others), and the English Language changed with bastardisation from European Countries i.e Pavement being from the French etc
308727
I agree with you!!! WHY are there African-Americans when a LOT of blacks never had any family who lived in Africa?? WHY do we say Native-American? I think Native should say it all! THEY were here first! They are the original natives! Why can't we say black or while? OK, yes, there are Asians & Arabs, etc. But really, would someone really WANT to call themselves a Lybian-American or Iraqi-American right now?? How about Israeli-American?? My dad's family was from Switzerland. Do I refer to myself as a Swiss-American? On Mom's side, her dad was part Polish & part Lithuanian. Her mom maybe German?? Dutch?? Name was Mittan. SO, am I Swiss-Polish-Lithuanian-maybeGerman-maybeDutch-American??? Damn! They don't make lines long enough for that! We're either Americans or we're foreigners! Right?
941812
Hmm, there really isn't a difference between being British and English, in fact anyone who's English is actually both. Saying that you are English implies that you live in England whereas saying that you're British could mean that you're English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish (though I doubt anyone from Scotland or Wales would use British over Scottish or Welsh). \n\nPaki is actually a somewhat offensive term used in England to describe people from Pakistan and can be compared to the word 'N ig g e r' used in the USA (though it is nowhere near as bad and doesn't have the history behind it either). \n\nGeezer is slang for describing anyone really (usually a man though) and is used quite alot where I'm from (Manchester).\nPoof is used in place of Gay, and can be a little offensive but its not really that bad, simialr to saying 'he's a fruit' in the USA.\n\nAs for some other slang words, Muppet is used down south alot and roughly means idiot, Pillock is similar but more ofensive, Wanker is quite rude (i'm pretty sure you don't need me to explain that one), Chav/Scally describes young people who wear hoodies and cause alot of trouble, Random is a word used in Birmingham and the midlands and means nothing at all, they just throw it into any sentance, Tosser is again a rude word similar to wanker, Boff is pretty much the same as Geek, Manc (pronounced mank) is short for Mancunian i.e. people from manchester and slag/slapper is the same as 's l u t' in USA. Sorry that most of those were insults but we English like to make as many varied insults as possible :-). \n\nBy the way, If the film you watched was trainspotting or snatch then I think you'll need a slang dictionary to understand all the coloquial terms in them.
476582
Its true that many US people do have bad steriotypes about the british. But those r only french-americans or people who side with the french. Most of the french r a snotty bunch of assholes. Both america and the UK helped them out in WW 1 and 2 yet they arent grateful. Any way it isnt most americans but the reason some do is cuz there different. People here dont know many if any British people so they only know what movies potray. Movies like Austin Powers. Im sure that there are steriotypes of americans in the UK . Like that we eather have a thick new york/ bostan accents or hick southern accents. There are mixes of different accents just as there are in Britain. But any way the french should change there flag 2 a white 1
626199
It would be more socially acceptable if they chose to be referred to as Americans with an African heritage.  American should always be put first.  I am an Ameircan of German decent and have never considered anything else. I am not a German American. I am an American!!!!!!!!!! It just happens that I am of German Ancestery
1150745
Maybe the people you met arent very good with these languages. A third of english words are nearly identical to french words. There are few british people who have had much experience with arabic languages. \nThat and its different alphabets like someone has already mentioned. \nI personally didnt know there was another way to say Iraq or Gandhi so maybe they just dont know?\n\nOut of interest how DO you say Iraq and Gandhi correctly?
418932
The French call us rosbifs ("roast beefs") based on our love of sunday lunch. \nThe Germans call us "f*ckings" because when they hear us speaking English that's the word they tend to be able to pick out, even if their English isn't great.