Flamish

Flamish is an historical or less common English term that has been used to refer to the Dutch-speaking population of Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, or to the language varieties spoken there. In contemporary usage, the preferred term is Flemish. Flemish describes the varieties of the Dutch language spoken in Flanders and forms part of the broader Dutch language continuum that also includes the Netherlands’ standard Dutch.

Linguistically, Flemish is not a separate language but a regional variant of Dutch. It is characterized by pronunciation, vocabulary, and some grammatical differences from Netherlands Dutch. Within Flemish, several dialect groups are traditionally identified, including West Flemish, East Flemish, Brabantian, and Limburgish. These dialects vary considerably across provinces and communities, and some are more divergent than others, though many speakers understand both Flemish dialects and standard Dutch.

Orthography in Flemish follows the same Latin script as Dutch. Standard spelling and grammar are guided by the Dutch Language Union, with Belgian variants and usage patterns reflected in education, media, and official communications in Flanders. Belgian Dutch demonstrates distinct vocabulary preferences and pronunciation norms compared with Netherlandic Dutch, contributing to a recognizable Belgian Dutch identity.

Flemish is spoken by the majority of people in Flanders and is used in schooling, government, media, and daily life within that region. It is one of Belgium’s official languages (as a form of Dutch) and remains closely integrated with the Dutch language as a whole, while maintaining regional linguistic and cultural variation.