Pronunciation: [wɒlˈuːn] (IPA) 
The word "Walloon" is spelled with a silent "w" at the beginning, which can be confusing for non-native speakers of English. Its IPA phonetic transcription is /wəˈluːn/, where the first sound is a very soft "w", followed by a short "uh" sound. The stress is on the second syllable, which is pronounced with a long "oo" sound, like in the word "moon". The last syllable is pronounced with a short "un" sound, as in "fun".
Walloon is a term that can refer to multiple aspects or have different meanings depending on the context. Primarily, Walloon refers to a Romance language that is spoken predominantly in Wallonia, a region in southern Belgium. It is recognized as one of the three official languages in Belgium, alongside Dutch and French. The Walloon language is a descendant of Old French and shares similarities with French, though it possesses its own distinctive features, grammar, and vocabulary.
Additionally, Walloon can refer to the people or inhabitants of Wallonia, who predominantly speak the Walloon language. Historically, the Walloons were a Celtic tribe living in the same region. Over time, the term evolved to encompass the French-speaking population living in Wallonia.
Moreover, Walloon can also denote something pertaining to Wallonia, such as the Walloon Region, which is one of three regions in Belgium. It is located in the southern part of the country and is known for its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture.
Furthermore, Walloon can occasionally be used to refer to a particular ethnic group, particularly within the context of medieval Europe. During this period, Walloons were a group of people who inhabited parts of present-day Belgium and France, primarily known for their expertise in wool production and trade.
Overall, Walloon can denote a language, people, region, or historical ethnic group associated with Wallonia, depending on the context in which it is used.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "Walloon" comes from the Old French word "walon", which originally referred to the speakers of the Romance language known as Old French. This term later evolved to specifically designate the speakers of the Romance language in the region of Wallonia, which constitutes the southern part of modern-day Belgium. The etymology of the word can be traced back further to the Old High German word "walh", meaning "foreigner" or "Roman". This Germanic term was used by the Germanic tribes to refer to the Celtic and Romance-speaking peoples that they encountered in the Western Roman Empire. Over time, "walon" gained prominence as the name for the French-speaking inhabitants of the region of Wallonia, and it eventually became the demonym for the people of Wallonia, known as Walloons.
