ItalianAmerican

Italian American refers to a person in the United States who is of Italian descent, including immigrants from Italy and their descendants. The term encompasses people whose families came from regions across the Italian peninsula and those who identify with Italian culture and heritage in the United States. Italian Americans have formed distinct communities while integrating into the broader American polity, and the phrase is sometimes written with a hyphen as Italo-American.

Historically, the largest waves of Italian immigration occurred from the 1880s through the 1920s, with many newcomers settling in urban centers in the Northeast and Midwest. They faced discrimination and restrictive laws, yet established ethnic enclaves, churches, businesses, and social clubs that helped preserve language and customs. Immigration declined after the 1920s and again after the 1960s, but Italian Americans continued to contribute to American society through labor, politics, education, and the arts.

Culturally, family ties, Catholic traditions, and regional cuisines are prominent aspects of Italian American life. Culinary influences such as pasta dishes, tomato sauces, and espresso-based beverages have become staples across the United States. Italian American communities have produced artists, writers, musicians, chefs, and political leaders, and they have played a role in broader debates about immigration, identity, and multiculturalism.

Geographically, Italian American populations are concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest, with sizable communities in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Michigan, and Illinois, as well as in California and other states. English is the primary language in daily life, though Italian and regional dialects are still spoken in some households and community centers.