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What does “praline” mean in Belgium?

In Belgium, the word praline means something specific: a small, filled chocolate bonbon, often hand-piped with ganache, gianduja, or liqueur. It’s the Belgian default. The French and American “praline” (sugared almonds or pecans in caramel) is a separate confection. Locals usually call it pralines américaines or pralin to avoid the mix-up. The Belgian sense was popularized by Jean Neuhaus in 1912. Even in English-language Belgian guidebooks, “praline” nearly always means the bonbon.

In this clip, the chocolatier counts off his shop’s range: “We hebben 26 verschillende soorten pralintjes” (“we have 26 different kinds of pralines”). The diminutive pralintje is the cozy everyday form.