Hyphenated Americans

As the United States is so large and comprised of so many various immigrants, people often refer to their heritage. Americans pride themselves on the "meting pot" culture, as it has always been a big part of the strength and adaptability of their country as a whole. So an American might say that they are Italian, Polish, Russian or Irish - they do not mean that they are those nationalities, this is usage within the context of America.

Hyphenated Americans tend to have cultures slightly different from mainstream American culture; habits and traditions brought over from the countries their family emmigrated from. Many retain the drinks, food, language, customs,and music of their heritage. They also tend to look like their cultural background...Italian, Irish, Indian, Polish etc... Some Europeans feel that they are aping the culture of European countries, but often they are just acting as they were brought up to act by their European born parents. Whether Irish-American, Russian-American, Italian-American etc...they all share some cultural characteristics with the countries their families left.It really is not such a big deal, all countries with heavy immigration do the same, such as Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand. Americans get the most flack for it though.

Tony Soprano (although fictional)is considered Italian/Italian-American when in America. He is an American first, but he is also from Jersey and is Italian American. Italian-American, his Hyphenated Americans group, is just a statement of his cultural background.

by gingernyc September 6, 2007

Hyphenated Americans

Any group of people who the majority of the people of this group have not assimilated into Anglo American culture and traditions.

Anyone not of a background consisting entirely of...Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, English, Scottish, Welsh, French, German, Dutch, Belgian, Swiss, or Austrian backgrounds who lives in the United States.

by Dan August 5, 2003

hyphenated america

actually both posts for this word are incorrect. Although you mean very well there isn't a caucasian-American. A hyphenated American is someone who is a citizen but was born in another country or can trace their origin back to that county.

Tatiana was born here in the United States. Her mother was born in Africa. Tatiana is African-American. This is a hyphenated american. Which makes up hyphenated america

by cheergirl17 March 23, 2012

Hyphenated Americans

Immegrated American of a non-white race.

Says Prof. Bhagwati(an Indian American): I feel loyal to both the countries. One is the country of my origin and the other my destination. That is true of most people today. I think people are quite happy to be hyphenated Americans.

by Indigo February 24, 2005

Hyphenated American

A derogatory term used to describe American of foreign birth or ethnicity,accusing them of allegiance to a foreign country. Originating in the late 1880s, It was later used as a political tool by Woodrow Wilson to provoke hysteria against German Americans or Irish Americans who called for U.S. neutrality in World War

Teddy Roosevelt: "There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all ... The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities, an intricate knot of German-Americans, Irish-Americans, English-Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian-Americans or Italian-Americans, each preserving its separate nationality, each at heart feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that nationality, than with the other citizens of the American Republic"

by Pinko-Basher December 3, 2021

non-hyphenated

1.Possibly the dumbest word in the english language, since the spelling of the word contradicts the second definition.

2. A word without a hyphen (see above definition)

Non-hyphenated is probably the dumbest thing since George W. Bush.

by Thelostcup September 8, 2006

hyphenatrix

A controlling, self-centered, narcissistic woman of the corporate world who insists on hyphenating her two (or more) last names. A hyphenatrix typically dominates meetings, abuses subordinates, and generally behaves as if:

(a) rules do not apply to her
(b) others exist in order to please her every desire, no matter how absurd
(c) one last name is simply insufficient to express the glory of her being.

Can generally be identified by her brightly-colored power suits, her chilling, Medusa-like gaze, and her willingness to verbally eviscerate anyone who dares refer to her by only one last name.

Have you met that new head of HR, Megan Smith-Jones?" "Oh sweet Lord...she's a hyphenatrix, isn't she? I'm gonna go work on my resume.

by Jokanaan July 23, 2010