Are you visiting Brussels and want to immerse yourself in Belgian culture? This guide reveals ten Belgian expressions you’ll hear everywhere, no matter where you are in Belgium. Each one embodies that typical Belgian warmth! On the terrace of a café, during a downpour, or over a plate of fries… These words pop up in every conversation and bring a smile to both locals and visitors!
Essential Belgian expressions: rain, humor… and self-deprecation
First step: learn words that add color to the Belgian language and atmosphere.
- The downpour: you can’t visit Belgium without knowing the famous“drache,” the Belgian equivalent of a torrential downpour. You hear it everywhere as soon as it rains hard. Grab your umbrella—the downpour doesn’t give you any warning!
- Faire douf: when the air gets heavy, muggy, and sticky, we say it’s “fait douf.” Perfect for complaining (with humor) during a heatwave or before a storm.
- En stoemelings: you do something “en stoemelings” when you act discreetly, on the sly, like a little secret shared among friends.
- Not having all your fries in the same bag: here’s a food-related expression for someone who’s a bit “out of it.” If a local says this to you, they certainly aren’t talking about an actual bag of fries!
- Carabistouilles: when a story seems a little too good to be true, don’t hesitate to call it “carabistouilles”: tall tales, but told with good humor.
100% friendly expressions: students, love, and parties
- A kot: a staple in Liège or Brussels, this word refers to student housing or a shared apartment. “I live in a kot with my friends,” is a phrase often heard near universities.
- I’ve got a boentje for you: derived from Flemish, this endearing word means to have a crush.
- Guindailler: synonymous with “partying,” guindailler is a verb reserved for (very) lively evenings, a specialty of the Belgians.
- Dikkenek: popularized by the cult film of the same name, this word mimics the French “melon” or “avoir la grosse tête,” but with a touch of local pride.
- “On se dit quoi!”: the key phrase to wrap up a conversation. A typically Belgian expression found only here: it simply means you’ll keep in touch, without rushing.
Each of these expressions typical of Belgium reflects a touch of humor, self-deprecation, or conviviality. Using them means building connections, smiling at everyday life, and—why not—blending into the crowd of people from Brussels, Liège, or Flanders.
Read more on Bruxelles Secrète 👉 Everything you need to know about Brussels dialect, this unique dialect born in Brussels!
