It is ColOmbia, Not ColUmbia!

When most of Americans write the name of the South American country they spell it with U instead O. Something that irritates Colombians, since we feel Americans are trying to Americanize our country’s name. I rather understand this is more due to lack of awareness or carelessness than anything else.

The word Colombia is, the same as in English, a female gender derivation of the last name of the discoverer of the American continent, which in Spanish is Colón. In Italian Columbus´ full name is Cristoforo Colombo and in Latin it is Cristophorus Colombus. In this way, the name ColOmbia comes from the name ColÓn.

Unlike ColUmbia, ColOmbia does not have a poetic image. That historical one that represents the United States like a woman wearing the American flag colors. That very popularized by the Columbia Pictures film company.

I also understand there are a lot of places, Media, institutions, brands, transportation means, fictitious things and many other stuff named Columbia that make people believe that is the only way of spelling it. But the truth is there is another way, such as the one I am explaining here.

Taking all of this into account, I suggest, ask and even beg you to call my country ColOmbia, not ColUmbia. That would make Colombians feel better and show how well-informed you Americans are.

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