# Anyone here 1st generation in US from Euro parents?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-1st-generation-in-us-from-euro-parents/141825>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 10, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-1st-generation-in-us-from-euro-parents/141825 "2002-12-10T19:37:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-1st-generation-in-us-from-euro-parents/141825/21 "2002-12-11T13:18:54Z")

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SaxFace,

My first language was German (Donauschwaben-low German dialect)-- but then when I turned 3-- the babysitters couldn’t understand me when I said ‘I have to go to the bathroom’…so it’s been English ever since. I still understand German and can spell/read/write. The grammar is difficult (speaking) but I manage to get by with my relatives in Frankfurt and Salzburg.

Now Hungarian-----Geez. I know just a couple words. Talk about a conspiracy theory. It is in it’s own group right there with Finnish. (The languages are kind of related= Finno-Urgo group).

One thing that is very strange is when I do speak German-- I speak it with a Hungarian accent-- go figure. My mom laughs at me b/c I sound like a Hungarian speaking German. Possibly from my Dad’s influence when he would speak German.

Anyone else?🙂

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**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-1st-generation-in-us-from-euro-parents/141825/22 "2002-12-11T13:22:53Z")

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Sublight…

Now that would be one hell of an accent.😃

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**Author:** ![Voorvie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/22d042/32.png) [@Voorvie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voorvie)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-1st-generation-in-us-from-euro-parents/141825/23 "2002-12-11T17:31:57Z")

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I’m first generation. My parents came to the US in 1969 with my older sister from Czechoslovakia. Quite a story on how they managed to “escape”, I’m hoping to write it down in book form some day.

I speak fluent Czech, can read and write it but have trouble with grammar. Now that I don’t live with my parents anymore its easier to forget but anytime I’m home by dad freaks if I speak English to him!

I totally plan on having my children speak Czech so they can communicate with their relatives. That is, if I ever have children but that’s another post. :

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**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-1st-generation-in-us-from-euro-parents/141825/24 "2002-12-11T17:41:53Z")

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Voorvie,

I plan on doing the same thing with my children…I want them to speak German and Hungarian (of course my father would teach them Hungarian).

I feel it is important to keep some of my heritage going.😃

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