There isn’t just one official language of Belgium, but three: Flemish Dutch, French and German. That’s despite fewer than 1% of Belgians speaking German as their primary tongue. Belgians are, as a nation, extremely committed to language learning.
How many official languages are spoken in Belgium?
Two bilingual signs (both in Dutch and French) on a street in Brussels. The Kingdom of Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German.
What is the difference between the Dutch and French languages in Belgium?
The Dutch and French spoken in Belgium have minor differences in vocabulary and semantic nuances from the varieties spoken in the Netherlands and France. Dutch dialects are common but dialects such as the Walloon language, Picard or Limburgish are not used in public life any longer.
What language do they speak in Brussels?
Marols, also known as Brusseleir, is a nearly extinct dialect spoken in Brussels, and used primarily in informal contexts. It is mostly a mixture of French and Dutch influences. Marols originated from the Brabantian dialect and gained greater French influences after the Kingdom of Belgium was established in 1830 following the Belgian Revolution.
What languages are spoken in the Netherlands?
The Flemish Region, Flemish Community, and the Capital Region all speak Dutch as their official language, making it the most widely spoken language in the country. This is followed by French, which is spoken by the French Community, the region of Wallonia, and the Capital Region. It is the native language of 40% of the population.
Which language is mostly speak in Belgium?
Dutch. Dutch is the most spoken primary language of Belgium and the official language of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region (merged to Flanders).
Why are there 3 languages in Belgium?
Historically speaking, the country has had quite a wide variety of rulers, influencing how multilingual and multicultural Belgians are today. Due to their close proximity to these three countries, they have three official languages that divide Belgium into three main regions.
Is English spoken in Belgium?
Based on these three regions, Belgium has three official languages – English, Dutch, and French. English is however not the primary language of the country. But even if it is not, a large percentage of the population speaks the English language. As such, you can speak it in different situations all over Belgium.
Does Belgium speak French or German?
Official Languages of Belgium
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, German, and French. About 55% of people speak Dutch as their mother tongue and 16% speak it as a second language. French is spoken by about 36% of people as a mother tongue and half of Belgians as a second language.
How do you say hello in Belgium?
Most people in Belgium speak French, with a small portion of the Belgian population speaking Dutch (Flemish).
Belgian Phrases.
| Hello: Salut | Pronounced: Sal oo |
|---|---|
| Good Evening: Bonsoir | Pronounced: Bon swar |
| Good Morning/Afternoon: Bonjor | Pronounced: Bon jor |
| Thank You: Merci | Pronounced: Mer see |
What is Belgium famous for?
Belgium is world-famous for its chocolate, waffles, beer, and its national football team, the Red Devils. Belgium is also home to NATO headquarters and to the EU Commission and European Parliament. Brussels is often referred to as the capital of the EU.
What religion is in Belgium?
Catholicism has traditionally been Belgium’s majority religion, with particular strength in Flanders.
What are Belgium people called?
Belgians (Dutch: Belgen, French: Belges, German: Belgier) are people identified with the Kingdom of Belgium, a federal state in Western Europe. As Belgium is a multinational state, this connection may be residential, legal, historical, or cultural rather than ethnic.
What is the currency of Belgium?
The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in Belgium on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years when the euro was the official currency but only existed as ‘book money’.
Is Belgium considered a poor country?
Although Belgium is a wealthy country, public expenditures far exceeded income for many years, and taxes were not diligently pursued.
How cold is Belgium in winter?
The average winter temperatures in Belgium are around 1 to 7°C (34-44° F). You can expect rain for about half of your stay if visiting Belgium between the end of November and February. It can rain every day, but you may also get lucky and it will be dry during your entire stay…
Is Belgium a good place to live?
Belgium is a very family-friendly country to live in. It has good educational, healthcare, and cultural facilities in all the main cities. Belgium is generally quite a safe place to live. Brussels has many municipalities popular with young families and the city has some of the best international schools.
Which language is most spoken in the world?
The most spoken languages in the world
How much English is spoken in Belgium?
Even though English isn’t an official language of Belgium, it is still spoken by 55% of its people.
Is English spoken in Brussels?
Brussels is officially bilingual (Dutch-French), but in reality French is the dominant language. It is also an international city, so English (and a lot of other languages) are common. In parts of the town where you encounter a lot of tourists both languages should be equally fine.
Is Dutch hard to learn?
Dutch is probably the easiest language to learn for English speakers as it positions itself somewhere between German and English.
How much English is spoken in Belgium?
Even though English isn’t an official language of Belgium, it is still spoken by 55% of its people.
What religion is in Belgium?
Catholicism has traditionally been Belgium’s majority religion, with particular strength in Flanders.
What is the currency of Belgium?
The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in Belgium on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years when the euro was the official currency but only existed as ‘book money’.
What is the language called that Belgian people speak?
What languages are spoken in Gent Belgium?
What Language Does Ghent Belgium Speak? In Belgium, Dutch is the official language. Flemings Flemish’s use of Dutch is commonly called pejorative by French-speakers, while still being technically Dutch. There are several dialects of Dutch that are spoken in Flanders, often called Dutch lligent dialect.
How do you say thank you in Belgium?
Thank you (informal) Dank u: Thank you (formal) Bedankt: Thank you (no distinction) Dank je wel or Dank u wel: Thanks a lot (informal or informal) Hartelijk bedankt: Heartfelt thanks: Geen dank: No thanks necesary/You’re welcome