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Are you living in or moving to French-speaking Belgium? Here are 21 Belgian French expressions you need to know.
In this video you will learn the most important French survival phrases... You've decided to start learning French, so let's speak like a native French speaker!
- 18 min
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- Contents
- The Basics of Belgian French
- 10 Fun Facts That Will Help You Master Belgian French
Who speaks it?
In Belgium, there are three major languages spoken: French, Dutch (aka Flemish) and German. Wallonia, in the south (the bit closest to France), is where French is spoken. In the north (closer to the Netherlands), they speak Dutch. And where Belgium borders with Germany in the east, there are a few areas where German is spoken. Then, you have Brussels. It’s a good mix of French and Dutch there, but knowing either will get you around. Roughly 40% of Belgians speak French natively, so it’s certa...
What’s the accent like?
The Belgian accent is often a subject of ridicule in French comedy (though not to the extent that the québécois accent is, thankfully). For an example, check out this scene in the hilarious film “Le dîner de cons” (“The Dinner Game”). For a great overview, this YouTuber will explain what l’accent belge (the Belgian accent) is, and make the argument that accents vary by city. He even includes phrases and examples.
Is it that different from the French spoken elsewhere?
Not really. While there are certainly differences in the accent, if your comprehension skills are strong, you won’t have any issues understanding Belgian French. If you’re comparing it to the French spoken in Western Africa or Québec, there are more noticeable differences. Compared to what you likely learned in school or the French that’s usually referenced in podcastsor other common immersion tools, it’s totally manageable.
1. Mealtimes may be delicious, but they have different names.
In France, your mealtimes are as follows: le petit-déjeuner (breakfast),le déjeuner (lunch) and le dîner (dinner). Whether you’re enjoying une crêpe (crepe) for breakfast in France or une gaufre (waffle) in Belgium, breakfast time is always referred to as le petit-déjeuner . At lunchtime, beware! If you’re in Belgium and tell a friend you want to meet them for le dîner (dinner),there might be a touch of confusion. In Belgium, the word for lunch is le dîner , not le déjeuner. But don’t worry,...
2. The numbers are far more logical.
This is perhaps the best news you’ll hear all day. For non-native French speakers, numbers can be tricky. After sixty, you’ve got soixante-dix (seventy, or sixty plus ten), quatre-vingts (eighty, or four times twenty) and quatre-vingt-dix (ninety, or four times twenty plus ten). Oh là là ! Well, in Belgium, there’s far less multiplication and addition. After sixty, things stay simple: Septante replaces soixante-dix (seventy). Octante replaces quatre-vingts (eighty). Nonante replaces quatre-vi...
3. You might stumble over savoir and pouvoir.
You should “know” that savoir (to know) and pouvoir (to be able to) “can be” different. Ha. Get it? Nope? Then keep reading. Often, instead of using pouvoir (to be able to) to express that they can or cannot do something, Belgians will use savoir (to know). Here’s an example of the same scenario in both France and Belgium: In Belgium: Je ne sais pas faire un gâteau ce soir. (I cannot make a cake tonight.) In France: Je ne peux pas faire un gâteau ce soir. (I cannot make a cake tonight.) The f...
Nov 10, 2023 · The English language has inherited quite a few French cognates – which means that French words are used in English. Discover 99 examples to get you started.
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