Great question. This is a common issue, and the answer is linked to history and the way the English language has evolved.

The use of the word "American" to refer to those born in the United States is a practice that began with the very foundation of the country. The colonists of the Thirteen Colonies sought an identity of their own, separate from Great Britain. When the United States became independent, they called themselves "Americans," and their citizens became known as such.

This designation consolidated in English, and with the rise of the United States as a world power, the term spread to other languages. In a global context, "American" ended up becoming synonymous with "United States citizen," even though America is, in fact, a continent with many other countries.

In Portuguese, however, it is more common and accurate to use the term "United States citizen" to avoid this ambiguity and respect the diversity of the American continent. While "United States citizen" refers exclusively to the citizens of the United States, "American" can refer to anyone born on the continent, whether in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, or any other country in America.

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