This has us stumped. Husband,wife and son come to America and another son is born. Is that son born in America a second generation Italian? Now, the son born in Italy marries an American girl. Are their children considered second generation the same as the son born of the two parents born in Italy?

<<Husband,wife and son come to America and another son is born. Is that son born in America a second generation Italian?>>

I always thought the son, in that circumstance, would be a first-generation AMERICAN. He's not an "Italian" (assuming he doesn't choose to take Italian citizenship, which is a whole different matter). This practice of calling people like him "second-generation Italians" seems to be something new and it strikes me as wrong.

Carol. it's very common amoung the immigrants. My parents were born in Italy, I'm considered first generation.

I would go along with the idea that "first generation Italians" is the phrase that makes sense - - and rarely ever used in the first person - - only used in the third person. Both sons - - the one born in America, and the one who immigrated TO America (assuming it was early childghood) would probably use the phrase, at times, that "our parents were first generation Italians who came to America". I'm not sure when any other use of the phrase would seem natural.

Best wishes,

Rex

I thinbk we're all talking about a different thing. What I was disagreeing with was the reference to the first generation born in the USA. I would call that generation "first generation American," not "second generation Italian."

I couldn't finish my post due to a pet problem; but there is never a label of second generation or third but I did hear that, when I was a child.

I think you are right but they do not pose it that way.

Hope the pet is ok.

If the parents were born in Italy, we must assume that they were more than first generation Italians.

The children born in the US are first generation Americans.

thanks, beauty. My dear dog is blind, arthritic, but worse, he has alzheimers(cognitive canine syndrome) so he has these messes and trapping himself somewhere.

Awww... it must make going on vacation that much more difficult.

Yes, I suspect this will be the last timehis pooch palace would board him because of all those problems. when sighted he loved going and meting up with his usual cast of canines but last year when a friend visited him, she said he was all alone while the others played. That's why I only travel once a year.

cigalechanta, good luck with your doggie. He's so lucky to have you!

Maureen