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Asian-American

Speech

noun

umbrella term for people of Asian descent (immigrant or natural born) who live in and/or are from the United States.

Considerations

As many countries and cultures are enveloped within this umbrella term, try to be as specific as possible. When speaking of Vietnamese-Americans or Chinese-Americans, use those terms instead. Be careful to not assume that every English-speaking Asian person you meet in the U.S. is necessarily Asian-American (for one, they could be Asian-Canadian or have any other number of nationalities). In general, be mindful of accuracy and confirm with relevant parties.

Note

Can be shortened to AsAm or AA by those who identify as Asian American. Be mindful of context and always spell out on first reference. If you aren't Asian-American, it's best to keep it spelled out.

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