Blaouza (Arabic: بلوزا, also spelt Blawza and Blouza), is a Maronite Christian village in the Bsharri District of the North Governorate of Lebanon. The population is approximately 457 (2021),[1] and the village lies at an altitude of 1,320 metres above sea level.[2]
Most villages in the region have Aramaic names, and the name Blaouza comes from the Aramaic for "almond plains".[3] Until the early 20th century, most villagers were Aramaic-speakers, and as a result, Blaouza natives speak Arabic with a distinct accent. This is also true of many of the Maronite villages of the region.
In 1998 it was reported that Blaouza had a population of around 200, whilst there were an estimated 10,000 people in Sydney who identified their families as coming from the village.[4]