Demonyms in Japanese?

Grammar Points
#1

In one of my review sentences today I noticed the loan word for kiwi-fruit「キウイ」and it got me thinking. I as a New Zealander often just refer to myself as a Kiwi, similar to an Aussies (Australians), or Canucks (Canadians).

So how well known do you think these nicknames are to your average Japanese native? Would I be understood if I referred to myself as a キウイ, or would receive strange looks like a person going around calling themselves a fruit! xD This could also extend to regional terms like Texans or Yanks.

2 Likes
#2

Hey :grinning:

I think that generally, people are simply called by nation + 人、I don’t think that many people would understand expressions like aussie or kiwi.

The only expression that comes to my mind is オージー for Australians.:blush:
Not to mention it is rarely used, something along “I don’t use it, but I kind of understand if I hear it” expression.

Cheers!