Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:
EMIGRATE / IMMIGRATE / MIGRATE
These three verbs are closely related. While emigrate and immigrate are basically opposites, immigrate and migrate have similar meanings. To emigrate is to leave one country to take up residence in another. To immigrate is to come into a country where not a native with the intention of taking up residence there. To migrate is to move to or among different countries or regions, often for temporary work. However, immigrate and migrate can have the same meaning: to move to a country in order to become a permanent resident or citizen. (Birds just migrate; they don’t immigrate.)
INCORRECT: It was my grandfather’s idea that the family should immigrate from Italy to Switzerland.
CORRECT: It was my grandfather’s idea that the family should emigrate from Italy to Switzerland.
INCORRECT: My husband and I have decided to emigrate to Australia where the cities have marvelous public transportation.
CORRECT: My husband and I have decided to immigrate to Australia where the cities have marvelous public transportation.
ALSO CORRECT: Some Mexicans migrate to California for harvesting season then return home for the rest of the year.
NOTE: The nouns related to these verbs are emigrant, immigrant, and migrant.
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