The word Mexico represents patriotism, cultural values, national pride and the country’s historical roots.
It has also given birth to a host of related terms such as mexicanisimo, mexicanismo and muy mexicano. However, at the same time, differing concepts of national identity are a continuing source of linguistic conflict between Mexico and the United States.
Mexico vs. US
The official name of Mexico is Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. This can be abbreviated to EUM. The use of the words estados unidos (united states) leads to a linguistic conflict with the United States which is called Los Estados Unidos (abbreviated to EUA or EE.UU.). The United States is sometimes referred to as La Union Americana in order to stress the fact Mexico also has the name Los Estados Unidos.
The use of the words “America” and “American” are also a source of contention. For Mexicans, the continent they live on is America and everyone who lives on the continent is either americano or americana. Again, Mexicans often think that Americans are monopolizing the use of the word “American” to refer just to themselves. A way out in Spanish is to call people from the United States estadounidenses. The words norteamericano or norteamericana are also used to refer to Americans but, strictly speaking, Canadians and Mexicans are also norteamericanos as they, too, live in North America.
In writing, the country Mexico in Spanish is spelled with a capital letter while the adjective mexicano, (used when referring to someone’s nationality) is spelled with a small “m.” Note that in Spanish, Spaniards spell Mexico as Mejico which reflects more the way the word is pronounced while the Mexican spelling reflects the word’s historical roots.
Country, state or city?
If a Mexican says no conozco Mexico, it can throw you: “I don’t know Mexico.” How can a Mexican say that he does not know his own country?
Then you realize that in Mexico, the word Mexico can refer to the country or the capital, La Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico City).
Just when you have got the difference between the country and the capital city sorted out, you find out that there is also el Estado de Mexico (the State of Mexico) which adjoins La Ciudad de Mexico. However, Mexico City is not in el Estado de Mexico but in what used to be known as el Distrito Federal (Federal District) but now referred to simply as CDMX. People from el Estado de Mexico are called mexiquenses.
Mexicanismos
Mexicans are very proud of being Mexican which is expressed through popular sayings such as como Mexico no hay dos (there are no two places like Mexico). Patriotic descriptions such as mexicanisimo or muy mexicano (note the use of small “m”) are given to people, events, etcetera that fully express the concept of Mexican culture. A sense of national solidarity is also found in terms such lo nuestro (what is ours). On the other side of the coin, the word malinchismo is used to refer to people who prefer foreign cultures, ideas or products to Mexican ones. From a historical perspective, Mexica was the original name given to the Aztecs and mexicanismos are an army of words such as chocolate and tomate that have entered Spanish from indigenous Mexican words.
Terms such los nuestros (ours) and tricolor (from la bandera tricolor—a reference to the Mexican flag) are often used by sports commentators when Mexico is playing against international rivals. Sometimes el tricolor is shortened to el tri. Meanwhile supporters will come out with shouts such as Mexico Mexico ra ra ra and Mexico, si se puede (Mexico, yes, you can do it).