Walloon
pronunciation
How to pronounce Walloon in British English:
UK [wɔˈlu:n]
How to pronounce Walloon in American English:
US [wɑˈlun]
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- Noun:
- a member of the French-speaking people living in Belgium
- an ethnic group speaking a dialect of French and living in southern and eastern Belgium and neighboring parts of France
- dialect of French spoken in Belgium and adjacent parts of France
Word Origin
- Walloon (adj.)
- 1520s, of a people of what is now souther and southeastern Belgium, also of their language, from Middle French Wallon, literally "foreigner," of Germanic origin (compare Old High German walh "foreigner"). The people are of Gaulish origin and speak a French dialect. The name is a form of the common appellation of Germanic peoples to Romanic-speaking neighbors. See Vlach, also Welsh. As a noun from 1560s; as a language name from 1640s.
Example
- 1. Belgian french is the variety of french spoken mainly in the french community of belgium , alongside related minority regional languages such as walloon , picard , champenois and gaumais .
- 2. Some observers were even talking about a break-up of the country into its flemish and walloon parts .
- 3. In belgium 's depressed french-speaking region of wallonia , it was a taxpayer-funded jaunt that caused something in voters to snap : an official " working visit " to america by members of the walloon parliament .
- 4. June 13 last year after the legislative elections , the northern flemish region of belgium charged language french political parties and political parties in the southern walloon region has been unable to agree , lead to a new government " difficult birth . "
- 5. He has a vision not only of flemish emancipation but of economic liberty : flanders should be permitted to develop a liberal economy less burdened by walloon demands for social transfers .