The Brussels dialect, or Brusseleirs is an incredibly rich patois which borrows from both Dutch and French. Although it is unfortunately not spoken as much these days, here is a list of some of its most typical vocabulary.
Meaning: Sink
Sukkeleir
Meaning: A loser, someone who is always unlucky.
Meaning: A bald man
Zievereir
Meaning: A joker, someone who tells a lot of tall tales.
Meaning: An old man (peï) or old woman (meï).
Kabberdouchke
Meaning: A disreputable bar. Originated from the French for cabaret douze, which was the lowest rank of café/bar in the 19th century.
Meaning: Someone who is from Brussels, literally a chicken-eater.
Stoemmeling/Stoemerik
Meaning: An idiot.
Meaning: A convincing liar, literally a bottle-uncorker.
Ettefretter
Meaning: A grumpy person.
Meaning: Someone who talks a lot.
Foefelaeir
Meaning: A dishonest person.
Meaning: A monkey, or a naughty boy.
Fleereflooiter
Meaning: Someone who has no ambition in life.
Meaning: A person who always hangs around the bar.
Ket
Meaning: A boy/man.
Meaning: A pretty girl, or girlfriend. Often used in conjunction with schuun (as in beautiful), e.g. e schuun mokke.
Schampavie
Meaning: I’m going. As in, ik ben schampavie.
Meaning: When something is rubbish or bad quality.
By Stephanie Benoit
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