# Belgian

/ˈbɛɫdʒən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/belgian
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a person

noun · CEFR A2

a person who comes from Belgium.

For teachers: a citizen or inhabitant of Belgium, or a person of Belgian descent.

- The famous detective Hercule Poirot is a Belgian, not a Frenchman.
- The conference brought together several Belgians who were working on international trade policy in Brussels.

Usage: Always capitalized as it is a proper noun.

### 2. relating to Belgium

adjective · CEFR A2

coming from or relating to the country of Belgium.

For teachers: of, from, or pertaining to Belgium, its people, or its culture.

- I really love Belgian chocolate because it is so smooth.
- The museum features an extensive collection of Belgian surrealist art from the early twentieth century.

Usage: Always capitalized as it is a proper adjective.

### 3. extinct language

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

a language that some experts think people spoke in parts of Europe a very long time ago.

For teachers: a hypothetical extinct Indo-European language proposed to have been spoken in parts of Gaul before the Roman conquest.

- Some historians study the Belgian language to understand ancient tribes.
- The theory of a distinct Belgian language remains a subject of debate among historical linguists specializing in pre-Roman Europe.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized academic term; most learners will only ever need the demonym and adjective senses.

## Examples

- My new neighbor is a Belgian who moved here last year.
- The conference was hosted by a Belgian who spoke four languages fluently.
- While many identify primarily as Flemish or Walloon, every Belgian shares the complex political and cultural heritage of a nation situated at the crossroads of Europe.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.