ArgentineItalian

Argentine Italian refers to the Italian-Argentine community and the Italian-speaking and culturally Italian-Argentine life that has developed in Argentina. The term encompasses people of Italian descent as well as the linguistic and cultural practices they brought and adapted in Argentine society. Its roots lie in the large-scale immigration of Italians to Argentina from the 1870s through the early 20th century, a process that continued for several decades.

Most immigrants settled in Buenos Aires and the surrounding metropolitan area, while others moved to provincial cities such as Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Córdoba, and Mendoza. The newcomers came from various regions of Italy, bringing diverse dialects, religious traditions, and culinary practices. Over generations, Italian and Argentine cultures blended, with intermarriage and social integration shaping a distinctive heritage.

Linguistically, Argentine Italian refers to a spectrum of outcomes rather than a single dialect. The dominant language in Argentina is Spanish, and most descendants today are bilingual to varying degrees. Italian influence persists through loanwords, intonation patterns, and family languages; some communities maintain heritage languages or standard Italian in schools, theaters, or media.

Culturally, Italian influence is evident in cuisine (pizza, pasta, gelato), music, architecture, and religious life. Italian Argentines have played prominent roles in business, politics, and the arts, contributing to a cosmopolitan, urban identity characteristic of modern Argentina.

See also: Italian immigration to Argentina; Italo-Argentine; Argentine Spanish.