der Amerikaner
American
A male resident or citizen of the United States of America (USA).
EXAMPLE
Mein neuer Kollege ist Amerikaner und kommt aus Texas.
My new colleague is American and comes from Texas.
der Amerikaner
American
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Meanings
der Amerikaner
Amerikaner pastry
A round, flat pastry made from batter, typically covered on one side with sugar icing or chocolate glaze.
EXAMPLE
Zum Kaffee habe ich beim Bäcker zwei Amerikaner mit Zuckerguss gekauft.
For coffee, I bought two Amerikaner pastries with icing at the bakery.
der Amerikaner
American
In a broader sense, a male person who comes from the American double continent (North or South America).
EXAMPLE
Obwohl er aus Kanada kommt, wird er in Europa oft einfach als Amerikaner bezeichnet.
Although he comes from Canada, in Europe he is often simply referred to as an American.
Usage tips
Context clue
Whether a person or a pastry is meant is always revealed by the context. Verbs like 'essen' (to eat), 'kaufen' (to buy), or places like 'Bäckerei' (bakery) point to the pastry. Verbs like 'kennenlernen' (to meet), 'sprechen' (to speak), or 'sein' (to be) point to the person.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe heute einen netten Amerikaner kennengelernt.
I met a nice American today.
Word formation
The word is formed from the country name 'Amerika' (America) and the ending '-aner', which is often used for names of inhabitants. The corresponding adjective is 'amerikanisch' (American).
EXAMPLE
Die amerikanische Kultur ist weltweit bekannt.
American culture is known worldwide.
Focus on the USA
In general German usage, 'der Amerikaner' (the American) almost exclusively refers to a person from the USA. For people from other countries on the American continent, more precise terms like 'Kanadier' (Canadian) or 'Mexikaner' (Mexican) are used.
EXAMPLE
Er ist Amerikaner, aber seine Eltern stammen aus Deutschland.
He is American, but his parents come from Germany.
Compare with
Amerikaner vs Ami
American
Both words can refer to a male resident or citizen of the United States. „Amerikaner“ is the neutral standard term, while „Ami“ is considerably more colloquial and can sound friendly, neutral, or slightly derogatory depending on the tone. „Amerikaner“ is therefore more suitable in formal or factual situations.
Amerikaner
Der Amerikaner arbeitet seit zwei Jahren in Berlin.
The American has been working in Berlin for two years.
Ami
Der Ami arbeitet seit zwei Jahren in Berlin.
The American has been working in Berlin for two years.
In real life
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