Common questions

Are Dutch and Flemish mutually intelligible?

Are Dutch and Flemish mutually intelligible?

Dutch and Flemish are actually the same. It’s like the difference between British English and, let’s say, Australian English. There are some pronunciation differences and some vocabulary that is different, but we understand each other perfectly.

Is Belgian Flemish the same as Dutch?

The Dutch language is a West Germanic language that is the national language of the Netherlands and, with French and German, one of the three official languages of Belgium. Dutch is also called Netherlandic or Dutch Nederlands; in Belgium it is called Flemish or Flemish Vlaams.

Can Flemish speakers understand Dutch?

Generally speaking, as long as both speak the official standardized Dutch they will understand each other quite well, although the southern accent (Flanders, but also the southern parts of The Netherlands) is quite recognizable.

Is Flanders in Belgium or Netherlands?

Today, “Flanders” is a term referring to the Flemish Region, which is defined as the Dutch-speaking part of the Kingdom of Belgium.

Can Dutch people understand Belgians?

Many believe that these two languages are one in the same, or that their only difference is their geographical location. In essence, a Dutch speaker will be able to understand a Flemish speaker and respond back, and the same goes for the opposite. Dutch people also often mention that the Flemish dialect sounds softer.

Why is Flanders so rich?

From WW II, Flanders became economically more important, due to its harbors (notably Bruges and Antwerp), its entrepreneurship, its education system and its worker’s ethos.

Do Afrikaners understand Dutch?

Intelligibility between Dutch and Afrikaans Although Afrikaans is a daughter of Dutch, Dutch speakers might take some time to understand the language but they can understand Afrikaans. One of the major differences between the two languages lies in grammar and morphology of Afrikaans.

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Ruth Doyle