How to pronounce Belgium
Say it like BEL-jum. Belgium has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Belgium. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BEL
- jum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Belgium pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- jumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Belgium
American and British speakers say Belgium in essentially the same way: /ˈbɛldʒəm/ in the US and /ˈbɛldʒəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: BEL-jum.
What does Belgium mean?
- A country in Western Europe that has borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. Official name: Kingdom of Belgium. Capital and largest city: Brussels.
Where does Belgium come from?
Borrowed from Latin Belgium, variant of Belgica, from Gallia Belgica, from the name of the tribe of Belgae.
Questions about saying Belgium
How do you pronounce Belgium?
Say BEL-jum. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɛldʒəm/. In British English it is /ˈbɛldʒəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Belgium?
Belgium has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEL). Broken into parts: BEL · jum.
Do Americans and Brits say Belgium the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɛldʒəm/ and the British form is /ˈbɛldʒəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.