About mahjong
How to Pronounce Mahjong
Quick answer
Say mahjong as mah-JONG, with the stress on the second part. Start with "mah," like the start of "mama." Then say "JONG," which rhymes with "song." Some people say mah-ZHONG, with the "zh" sound in "measure." Both pronunciations are correct, and every spelling is said the same way.
At a glance
- Say it: mah-JONG
- Stress: on the second part
- Also correct: mah-ZHONG
- Mah jongg and mah jong: said the same way
- In Mandarin Chinese: má-jiàng
How do you pronounce mahjong?
Say mah-JONG. Put the stress on the second part.
- Say "mah." It sounds like the start of "mama."
- Say "JONG." It rhymes with "song."
- Put them together. Say the second part a little louder: mah-JONG.
Use this table to say each form of the word.
| Word | Say it like this | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| mahjong | mah-JONG | JONG rhymes with song. |
| mahjong (other way) | mah-ZHONG | ZH sounds like the s in measure. |
| mah jongg | mah-JONG | The extra g adds no sound. |
| mah jong | mah-JONG | Same as mahjong. |
| 麻將 (Mandarin) | má-jiàng | The first part rises. The second part falls. |
| 麻雀 (Cantonese) | mah-jeuk | This older name means sparrow. |
Is it mah-JONG or mah-ZHONG?
Both are correct. Dictionaries list both ways to say it.
Merriam-Webster lists mah-ZHONG first. Dictionary.com lists mah-JONG first. So neither one is wrong.
Pick the one you like, or the one your group uses. Then learn the other words you will hear at the table in our list of mahjong terms.
How do you say mahjong in Chinese?
In Mandarin Chinese, the game is 麻將, said má-jiàng. The first part rises in tone. The second part falls.
The game's older name is 麻雀. It is máquè in Mandarin and mah-jeuk in Cantonese. It means "sparrow." Find out why in what does mahjong mean.
Ready to say it at the table?
Our American and Chinese sets are ready for your first game of mah-JONG.
Questions people ask
What do you say when you win at mahjong?
In American mahjong, you call out "Mah Jongg" when your hand is complete. Say it the same way: mah-JONG.
How do you spell mahjong?
Mahjong is the most common spelling. Mah jongg and mah jong are also correct. See which mahjong spelling is right.
What is mahjong?
Mahjong is a tile game from China, usually for 4 players. Read what is mahjong to learn the basics.