If someone was born and raised in Poland, for example, then went to the United States and lived there, they would be considered Polish American.
My story, however, is a bit more complicated. I was born in Chile and stayed there with my family until I moved out as a child. Then, I lived in Brazil until I was 13 and moved to the United States. When I was 17, my family and I moved to France. Am I just Chilean-French or something? Chilean?
If asked, I would just say « Je suis né au Chili mais je réside à France maintenant. »
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I am a citizen of France as I live there, but I’m also a citizen of the other 3 countries
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“Chilean-French with a few stops between”, so you don’t need to explain your life story unless someone is curious? If I understand French well enough, that is just a twist on what you said.
A real (man/woman/person/insert gender here) of the world.
It depends on how you feel. For instance, I have a few friends that are born in Norway, but their parents are Vietnamese. Those friends would always described themselves as Vietnamese while in Norway; they are a part of that community, their ancestry is important to them etc. While traveling abroad however, they would say they are Norwegian. The context is different, and citizenship is more relevant. Some of them have lived several places, but their roots and citizenship were the most important pieces of nationalidentity to them.
Myself I’m an immigrant. I don’t tell people I don’t really know what county I came from; it’s private and not relevant. If people ask me (not abroad), they usually mean my accent is off, which is rude.
I would say you are a human and borders are arbitrary. and patriotism, and dividing people up by their country is a silly ancient practice that needs to be removed from society, so we stop fighting over land and immigration.
But if it matters to you, then just consider yourself American. Your current nationality. You can always say you were born in Chile, but now you are American.
You’re Chilean. You were born in Chile.
I can actually perfectly answer your question on how you would describe yourself. And it’s literally impossible for anyone to argue with me.
You would describe yourself as « Je suis né au Chili mais je réside à France maintenant. »
Mexican
When people ask me where I’m from and the question is justified, I tell them and briefly describe the geographical position of my very small homeland. If anyone asks just to be nosy, I say I’m legal and stare them down. When the race is relevant like in GPs office, I’m white European/other. All depends on situation I’m asked.
Honestly, in legal paperwork, consult the laws.
In everyday conversation, it’s what you feel.
I was born in South America, moved to the US when I was a child. I’m an adult now, my main language is English, I think in English, I grew up here, I have a life here.
If someone asked “what” I am, I say “I’m american, but I was born in South America.” It can be either a fun conversation, or a filter for judgy people I don’t want around me.
If I moved to Germany, I would still say I’m an American, because it’s the culture I know, the place I grew up, the identity I choose.
I don’t deny my heritage, I still enjoy Salteñas once a month with my family, I speak Spanish to my son to make sure he doesn’t forget it, I look Hispanic, I still have fond memories of being a child in another country, but I never say I’m “Bolivian-American,” because by circumstances of life I just have more identity of my life, here.
I found this to be an interesting question.
I don’t think of myself in terms like that. I’m American (as in United States of). If people ask where I’m from, I’d say Pennsylvania.
If asked what I am, in terms of what countries my ancestors came from, I would typically just list my four grandparents. Since that encompasses four different European countries, it’s too complicated to think of myself as a hyphenated American. Maybe you’re in that situation.
Ultimately, the label is yours, so you get to decide. No one else’s opinion matters. It’s your identity. Just say what feels right to you.
I’d say it’s really up to you at this point. In your own head do you think of yourself as a French person or Chilean or Brazilian? What does your internal monologue sound like to you? Which of these cultures do you mostly identify with? Which history do you feel is your own?
At the end of the day is a specific label something you actually want, or is it something you think you need to show to other people?
Depends on the context. Chilean probably.
However I would stick with the one that is likely to get you into the least trouble in that situation.People really shouldn’t judge people based on where they come from, but they do. So if you know the safe answer go with that, or avoid answering.
In my friend circles even a question “where are you from?” is considered a bit rude.
Like who cares in 2025 - we will know each other better and eventually you will hear my life story, but asking that when we’ve just met - what for? What it would change?