Flemish Translation & Flemish Interpretation Services
Flemish language
Providing Professional Translation, Interpretation, and Localization services in Flemish and more than 300 other languages and dialects.
Autonym(s)
Vlaams
Number of Speakers
Native Speakers: 6.5 million
Geographic Distribution
Belgium, Netherlands, France
Official or Recognized Status
Official: Belgium (Dutch)
Classification
Indo-European, West Germanic, Dutch
Features
Flemish is a variant of Dutch spoken in the northern region of Belgium (Flanders) and shares the same standard grammar and orthography as Standard Dutch. However, it is distinguished by its pronunciation, vocabulary, and certain idiomatic expressions. Phonetically, Flemish tends to use softer, more melodious intonation and includes sounds and pronunciations that differ noticeably from those in the Netherlands, especially in vowel length and diphthongs. Lexically, it incorporates unique words and regionalisms not typically found in Standard Dutch, as well as some borrowings from French due to Belgium’s bilingual context. Flemish also maintains more formal or traditional language use in some contexts compared to Dutch spoken in the Netherlands.
Dialects
The Flemish language encompasses several major dialects spoken across the Flanders region of Belgium, each with distinct phonological, lexical, and syntactic features. The main dialect groups are West Flemish, East Flemish, Brabantic, and Limburgish. West Flemish, spoken in the western provinces near the coast, is known for its guttural sounds, heavy use of diphthongs, and strong regional identity. East Flemish, centered around Ghent, serves as a transitional dialect between West Flemish and Brabantic, featuring a softer accent and unique vocabulary. Brabantic, spoken in central Flanders including Antwerp and Brussels, has had significant influence on Standard Dutch and is considered one of the most intelligible Flemish dialects. Limburgish, spoken in the easternmost part of Flanders, shares features with neighboring German and Dutch dialects, including pitch accent and a distinctive melodic intonation. While Standard Dutch is used in formal contexts, these dialects remain strong in daily conversation and regional media, reflecting Belgium’s deep linguistic diversity.
Writing System
Latin script
U.S. Distribution
In the United States, Flemish is spoken primarily within Belgian-American communities, particularly among older generations and recent immigrants from the Flanders region of Belgium. While it is not one of the more commonly spoken heritage languages in the U.S., small concentrations of Flemish speakers can be found in parts of the Midwest, such as Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan, where Belgian immigrants historically settled in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In these areas, Flemish was once used in homes, churches, and community gatherings, though it has largely given way to English over time. Today, Flemish persists mainly as a heritage language among families and cultural organizations, with occasional use in festivals, Belgian-American clubs, and efforts to preserve linguistic and cultural traditions.
At Latitude Prime, we offer Flemish translation, Flemish interpretation, and Flemish localization services in numerous specialized subject areas and multiple dialects. Whether you need to translate legal documents from English into Flemish for a real estate deal, need a Flemish interpreter for a business meeting in Brussels, or want to localize your website into Flemish to market your products or services in Belgium, Latitude Prime has the customized language solution to meet all your Flemish language needs.
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