Flemish is a West Germanic language most closely related to Dutch and generally regarded as the Belgian variant of Dutch. Flemish is spoken by approximately 5.5 million people in Belgium and by a few thousand people in France. It is spoken by about 55% of the population of Belgium. Although linguists prefer the term 'Netherlandic', Dutch and Flemish remain common terms because they have political and cultural meaning. This is especially true of local spoken dialects, which form a gradual chain through Dutch-Flemish territory. Also, Flemish speech has many loan words from French.
Pronunciation
a: like 'a' in 'apple'
aa: long like 'a' in 'father'
au, ou: between 'ow' in 'how' and 'ow' in glow'
e: as in 'bet'
e, ee: long as in 'ay' in 'day'
ei, ij: like 'ey' in 'they'
eu: like German 'ö'
ë: separates 'e' from preceding vowel, ex. Australië pronounced 'os-tra-lee-a'
i: like 'i' in 'it'
i, ie: lime 'ee' in 'meet'
o: as in 'pot'
o, oo: long as in 'note'
oe: like 'oo' in 'zoo'
u: like 'u' in 'urn'
ui: like 'eui' in fauteuil in French
ch, g: soft lisping sounds
j: like English 'y'
r: trilled
s: as in 'safe'
w: like English 'w'
Basics
Hello: Goeiendag/Hallo
Good morning: Goedemorgen
Good evening: Goedenavond
Good night: Goedenacht
Good bye: Dag or Tot ziens
Yes: Ja
No: Nee
Please: Alstublieft
Thank you: Dank U
You're welcome: Zonder dank
Excuse me: Pardon
Sorry: Sorry
How are you? Hoe gaat het met U/jou?
I'm fine thanks: Goed, bedankt
What's your name?: Hoe heet U'je?
My name is.: Ik heet.
Where are you from?: Vanwaar zijt U/ben je?
Do you speak English?: Spreekt U/spreek je Engels?
I don't understand: Ik begrijp het neit
Transport
What time does the . leave/arrive? Hoe laat vertrekt/arriveert de.?
Airplane: vliegtuig
Boat: boot
Bus: bus
Train: trein
Tram: tram
I'd like a . ticket: Ik wil graag een.
One-way: enkele reis
Return: heen en terug
Where is the.?: Waar is..?
Bus stop: de bushalte
Ferry terminal: de veerhaven
Metro station: het metrostation
Ticket office: het kaartjeskantoor
Directions
Where is the..?: Waar is.?
Bank: de bank
Exchange office: het wisselkantoor
Hotel: een hotel
Post office: het postkantoor
Public toilet: een openbaar toilet
Straight ahead: rechtdoor
Turn left/right: Ga links/rechtsaf
Far/near: ver/dichtbij
Behind: achetr
Accomodation
How much is it.? Hoeveel is het.?
Per night: per nacht
Per person: per persoon
Is breakfast included? Is het ontbijt erbij inbegrepen?
Can I see the room?: Kan ik de kamer zien?
Single: eenpersoonkamer
Double: tweepersoonskamer
Shopping
How much is it?: Hoeveel is het?
It's too expensive: Het is mij te duur.
Time
What time is it?: Hoe laat is het?
When?: Waneer?
Today: vandaag
Tonight: vanavind
Tomorrow: morgen
Yesterday: gisteren
Food
Breakfast: het ontbijt
Lunch: het middagmaal
Dinner: het avondmaal
Vegetable: groente
Fish: vis
Meat: vlees
Poultry: gevogelte
Numbers:
1: een
2: twee
3: drie
4: vier
5: vijf
6: zes
7: zeven
8: acht
9: negen
10: tien
To learn Flemish why not consider some Foreign Language Tution?
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