What does an Italian call a non-Italian?

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asked Sep 10 in Words & Wordplay by Dwayne601 (1,680 points)
What does an Italian call a non-Italian?

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answered Sep 11 by JahJah (2,120 points)
An Italian calls a non-Italian "stranieri" which means (foreigners).

Italians may also use a demonym that is based on their nationality, like Americano for an American.

Other terms that are used for a non Italian by Italians are medigan or merigano which are Italian American slang terms that are used by Italians to describe non Italians or those who have lost touch with their Italian heritage.

Medigan/Merigan is a term that is thought to derive from the word "American" with a thick Italian accent and describes non Italians, especially white Americans who are seen as having lost their connection to Italian traditions and culture.

Medigan/Merigan is also often used for referring to people that don't fully understand or embrace their Italian roots, like by not cooking traditional Italian meals or not teaching their children the Italian language.

The terms straniero and americano are standard and widely used terms in Italy.

And Medigan/Merigan is a form of informal, often pejorative slang term that is primarily used by Italian Americans, to differentiate themselves from non Italians or from people that they consider assimilated

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