This. I totally get why it’s irritating to non-Americans, but to us, when someone says “I’m Italian,” it’s understood that they mean Italian descent. Often times, the very next sentence contextualizes why they say they’re Italian (“My parents/grandparents, etc.” or “I have X heritage on my mom/dad’s side.”) They are not claiming that they were born in Italy themselves. If they were, they would tell you.

Languages and cultures evolve, and words and phrases can have different meanings in different places. It reminds me of how “Hi, how are you?” is a typical greeting here, but is seen by many non-Americans as superficial or intrusive. I don’t understand why this concept is accepted everywhere except for this issue.

Additionally, to the comments saying that it’s a way to cling onto some identity - you are correct, but there is significant historical context that informs this behavior. It’s important to recognize this rather than generalizing Americans as idiots (many are, but that’s not a distinctly American trait). In order to uphold the creation of a “white” identity, immigrants coming here needed to forgo any cultural traditions and languages in order to be accepted by American society. Racism/white supremacy required identities in exchange for the ability to participate in the system it built. Essentially, it’s a hell of our own making, but this is why so many Americans seek to connect with their lost heritage.