What does it mean to be half-Italian?

Half-Italian refers to a person who has one Italian parent or grandparent, but does not necessarily have a full Italian background or heritage. It is often used to describe someone who has a mixed ancestry that includes Italian ancestry, but may also include other ethnicities such as American, British, or other European.

For example, if someone's mother is Italian and their father is American, they might be described as half-Italian, even though they do not have a full Italian background. Similarly, if someone has one Italian grandparent and three non-Italian grandparents, they might also be described as half-Italian.

It's important to note that the term "half-Italian" can sometimes be seen as reductionist or dismissive of the person's full ancestry and heritage. Some people may prefer to identify themselves as mixed race, biracial, or simply American, rather than focusing on a single ethnicity or nationality. Ultimately, how someone chooses to identify themselves is up to them, and it's important to respect their self-identification.