About mahjong
Mahjong, Mah Jongg or Mah Jong: Which Spelling Is Right?
Quick answer
Mahjong, mah jongg and mah jong are all correct spellings of the same game. Mahjong is the most common. The National Mah Jongg League uses mah jongg, a spelling that comes from a 1920s trademark. Dictionaries list both. The word is lowercase unless it starts a sentence or is part of a name.
At a glance
- Correct spellings: mahjong, mah jongg, mah jong and more
- Most common: mahjong
- National Mah Jongg League spelling: mah jongg
- Capital letter: only at the start of a sentence or in a name
- How to say every spelling: mah-JONG
Which is right: mahjong, mah jongg or mah jong?
All of them are right. Each one names the same tile game. Mahjong is the most common spelling.
| Spelling | Who uses it |
|---|---|
| mahjong | Most common. Oxford's main spelling. |
| mah jongg, mah-jongg | The National Mah Jongg League. Merriam-Webster's main spelling. |
| mahjongg | Oxford calls it a North American spelling. |
| mah jong, mah-jong | Another common spelling. |
| majiang | The Chinese name, in English letters. |
Pick one spelling and use it the same way each time.
Why do some people spell it mah jongg?
The spelling mah jongg goes back to Joseph Park Babcock. He helped bring the game to the US in the 1920s.
Babcock worked for Standard Oil in Suzhou, China. In 1920, he wrote a rule book called Rules of Mah-Jongg. He also trademarked the name Mah-Jongg. A trademark is a brand name that the law protects.
The National Mah Jongg League began in 1937. It still uses this spelling, and so do many American players. Read the full story in our guide to mahjong history.
What do dictionaries say?
Dictionaries accept more than one spelling. They just list them in a different order.
- Merriam-Webster lists mah-jongg first, with mahjong as another spelling.
- Oxford lists mahjong first. It notes mahjongg as a North American spelling.
So you can use either one. Both are real words.
Is mahjong capitalized?
No. Mahjong is a common noun, just like chess. So write it in lowercase.
Use a capital letter only in two cases:
- At the start of a sentence. Mahjong is played with tiles.
- In a name. The National Mah Jongg League is one example.
What is mah jongg?
Mah jongg is mahjong, the same game. It is a tile game from China, usually for 4 players.
Players take turns drawing a tile and throwing one away, called a discard. In American mahjong, you call out "Mah Jongg" when your hand is complete.
In the US, many people play American mahjong. It uses 152 tiles, including 8 jokers. A joker is a wild tile. A new card of winning hands comes out each year.
New to the game? Start with what is mahjong. Then learn how to play American mahjong.
Any way you spell it, ready to play?
Our American sets have 160 or 166 tiles, with jokers and spare tiles for mah jongg night.
Questions people ask
Do mahjong and mah jongg sound the same?
Yes. Every spelling is said mah-JONG. Some people say mah-ZHONG. See how to pronounce mahjong.
Is mahjong one word or two?
It can be either. Mahjong is one word. Mah jongg and mah jong are two words, and some people add a hyphen.
Which spelling should I use?
If you are not sure, use mahjong. Use Mah Jongg when you write the League's name. Most of all, pick one and stick with it.
Is mah jongg the same as American mahjong?
Not quite. Mah jongg is a spelling, and it fits any style of the game. Many American players use it, and so does the League.