This page will help you understand the words and expressions you’ll hear in Belgium and especially in Liège: Belgian expressions, local slang, Liège dialect words or Walloon terms. If you hear a word you do not know or understand, you can search for it here to discover its meaning.
Affon [afɔ̃] n. m.
The act of downing a drink in one go, without stopping, often in a student or party context. It’s the classic drinking dare you throw out to mark the moment. Example: “Il a fait un affon super vite.” (“He downed it super fast.”)
Affonner [afɔne] v. tr.
To down a drink in one shot, emptying a glass without stopping. Can be serious, ritualistic (initiation, student circle) or just for laughs between friends. Example: “Allez, affonne et on y va !” (“Come on, down it and let’s go!”)
Baraki [baʁaki] n. m.
A person seen as vulgar, loud, shameless or lacking elegance. Can refer to a style as much as an attitude that’s just a bit too much. Example: “Ils hurlaient dans la rue à 2 h du matin, de vrais barakis.” (“They were screaming in the street at 2 a.m., total barakis.”)
Biesse [bjɛs] adj.
Mean, unpleasant, not nice and sometimes a bit stupid depending on the context. The perfect word to call someone out without taking it too seriously. Example: “Sois pas biesse, je te taquine.” (“Don’t be biesse, I’m just teasing you.”)
Blocus \[blɔkys] n. m.
An intensive study period before exams, where you organise your time to revise, write summaries and go over your notes. Example: “Je suis en blocus, je passe mes journées à réviser.” (“I’m in blocus, I spend my days studying.”)
Brol [bʁɔl] n. m.
A worthless or unidentifiable object; a mess; a pile of things with no logical order. The perfect word for everything lying around that you can’t quite name. Example: “Je retrouve jamais rien dans ce brol.” (“I can never find anything in this brol.”)
Caillant [kajɑ̃] adj.
Very cold, freezing. Used for the weather, a poorly heated room or a wind that cuts right through you. Example: “Mets une écharpe, il fait caillant aujourd’hui.” (“Put a scarf on, it’s caillant today.”)
Chique \[ʃik] n. f.
A sweet (candy) in Liège, or “chewing gum” elsewhere in Belgium. Very common term, used by kids and adults. Example: “Tu veux une chique ? Elles sont à la fraise.” (“Want a chique? They’re strawberry flavoured.”)
Chiquelette \[ʃiklɛt] n. f.
A piece of chewing gum. The word exists but is less used by young people than “chewing-gum”. Example: “J’ai pris une chiquelette après le repas. ” (“I had a chiquelette after the meal.”)
Crolle [kʁɔl] n. f.
A curl of hair, natural or styled. Can refer to a single curl or an entire head of curly hair. Example: “Tes crolles sont magnifiques quand il pleut.” (“Your crolles look amazing in the rain.”)
Drache [dʁaʃ] n. f.
A heavy, sudden downpour with big, very Belgian raindrops. The kind of shower that ruins a five-minute walk. Example: “On sortira quand la drache sera passée.” (“We’ll head out once the drache has passed.”)
Faire la file [fɛʁ la fil] loc. verb.
To queue up, to wait your turn in a line. Very common expression, especially outside chip shops and service counters. Example: “On a fait la file vingt minutes pour nos frites.” (“We queued for twenty minutes for our fries.”)
Farde [faʁd] n. f.
A rigid folder or binder for storing loose sheets of paper. A staple of Belgian school bags, from primary school to university. Example: “Range tes papiers dans une farde, tu vas encore tout perdre.” (“Put your papers in a farde or you’ll lose them again.”)
GSM [ʒe.ɛs.ɛm] n. m.
A mobile phone. Still widely used as a term, even in the age of smartphones. Example: “J’ai oublié mon GSM à la maison, catastrophe.” (“I left my GSM at home, disaster.”)
Guindaille \[ɡɛ̃.daj] n. f.
A student party, often involving heavy drinking, rowdy singing, folk traditions and a strong sense of student camaraderie.
Kot \[kɔt] n. m.
Student accommodation, usually a small room or studio rented by a student, often in a shared house with other students. By extension, also refers to the student flat-share itself (communal kot, project kot, etc.).
Neni [nɛni] adv.
No. A familiar negation typical of Liège. Can be soft, firm or teasing depending on the tone. Example: “Tu viens boire un verre ? Neni, je suis crevée.” (“Coming for a drink? Neni, I’m exhausted.”)
Nonante [nɔnɑ̃t] adj. num.
Ninety. A logical and straightforward form used in Belgium and Switzerland.
Oufti [ufti] interj.
A versatile Liège interjection expressing surprise, admiration, shock, exasperation — it all depends on the tone. Example: “Oufti, t’as vu la taille de ce sandwich ?!” (“Oufti, did you see the size of that sandwich?!”)
Papier collant \[papje kɔlɑ̃] n. m.
Clear adhesive tape used for sticking, repairing or wrapping. A common Belgian term, equivalent to “tape” or “scotch tape”. Example: “Passe-moi du papier collant, je dois fixer cette affiche.” (“Pass me the papier collant, I need to fix this poster.”)
Septante [sɛptɑ̃t] adj. num.
Seventy. A clear and intuitive form, firmly rooted in Belgian speech.
Tantôt [tɑ̃to] adv.
Means “in a little while” or “a little while ago” depending on context — the meaning comes from the sentence. Example: “Je passe tantôt.” (futur) / “Je l’ai vu tantôt.” (passé) — “I’ll pop by tantôt.” (future) / “I saw him tantôt.” (past).
Tirette [tiʁɛt] n. f.
A zip or zipper; or the merging of cars at a junction (the tirette manoeuvre). Example: “Ma tirette est coincée, je sais plus fermer ma veste.” (“My tirette is stuck, I can’t close my jacket.”)