Belgium

The word “Belgium” means a country in Western Europe, known for its capital Brussels and its chocolate and beer.

“Belgium” is pronounced BEHLD-zhuhm (/ˈbɛld͡ʒəm/ in IPA).

Here is “Belgium” used in a sentence: “Belgium is famous for its chocolate.”

“Belgium” is a name.

“Belgium” is a fairly common word in modern English.

Belgium and the Netherlands are two separate countries in Western Europe, not different names for the same place. Belgium's capital is Brussels, while the Netherlands has its own government and capital in Amsterdam. The two share a border but have distinct languages, histories, and national identities.

Belgium has three official languages: Dutch (spoken in the northern Flanders region), French (spoken in the southern Wallonia region), and German (spoken in a small eastern area). This makes it one of the few European countries where several languages hold equal official status. Brussels, the capital, is officially bilingual in Dutch and French.

Belgium's capital, Brussels, hosts several of the main institutions of the European Union, so the city is often used as shorthand for the EU itself. This concentration of European offices is one reason Belgium plays a prominent role in international politics despite its small size.

Belgium is widely known for its chocolate and its beer, both of which have long-established traditions there. The country is also associated with its capital, Brussels, and with waffles, though its reputation rests especially on high-quality chocolate and a large variety of distinctive beers.