brussels: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal in political/institutional contexts; neutral in geographical/culinary contexts.
Quick answer
What does “brussels” mean?
The capital city of Belgium, headquarters of the European Union and NATO.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The capital city of Belgium, headquarters of the European Union and NATO.
The administrative institutions of the European Union (as a metonym); Brussels sprouts (the vegetable).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'Brussels' for the city and EU. The vegetable is more commonly called 'Brussels sprouts' in the UK and often shortened to just 'brussels sprouts' (lowercase) in the US.
Connotations
In UK political discourse, 'Brussels' as a metonym for the EU often carries stronger connotations of bureaucracy and remote governance. In the US, the term is more neutral, referring primarily to the city or NATO.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to geographical proximity and political discourse regarding the EU.
Grammar
How to Use “brussels” in a Sentence
[decision/regulation] from Brussels[travel/fly] to Brussels[based/headquartered] in BrusselsBrussels [said/announced/decided]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brussels” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The minister was Brusselsed by the bureaucracy.
- (Informal: to be overwhelmed by EU red tape)
American English
- The policy got Brusselsed during negotiations.
adverb
British English
- The policy was decided Brussels-down.
American English
- The directive came Brussels-first.
adjective
British English
- A Brussels-based lobbyist
- Brussels regulations
American English
- A Brussels-style waffle
- The Brussels bureaucracy
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the EU regulatory environment, e.g., 'We must comply with the latest Brussels directive.'
Academic
Used in political science, European studies, and international relations contexts.
Everyday
Refers to the city for travel or the vegetable, e.g., 'I don't like boiled Brussels sprouts.'
Technical
In agriculture/botany: 'Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera' (the sprout).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brussels”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “brussels”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brussels”
- Misspelling as 'Brussles' or 'Brusells'.
- Using plural verb for the city ('Brussels are...').
- Confusing 'Brussels' (city) with 'brussels' (lowercase for the vegetable in US usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is grammatically singular when referring to the city or the EU institutions (e.g., Brussels is large). The vegetable 'Brussels sprouts' is always plural.
It's a metonym, as the primary EU institutions (the Commission, the Council) have their headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
It is pronounced /ˈbrʌsəlz/, with a silent 'e' and the final 's' pronounced as a /z/. It rhymes with 'hustles'.
Yes, historically. The vegetable was widely cultivated in the 16th century in the Brussels region, hence the name.
The capital city of Belgium, headquarters of the European Union and NATO.
Brussels is usually formal in political/institutional contexts; neutral in geographical/culinary contexts. in register.
Brussels: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrʌsəlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrʌsəlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Brussels Sprout (derogatory term for a bureaucrat)”
- “Brussels fog (obscure bureaucratic language)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a small SPROUT growing in a grand, ornate city hall in BELGIUM. This links the vegetable to the capital city.
Conceptual Metaphor
Brussels is a machine (for bureaucracy); Brussels is a heart (central hub of Europe).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'Brussels' commonly refer to in political journalism?