<p>In 2008, there were 29 versions in different languages according to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3776732/Scrabble-60-facts-for-its-60th-birthday.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Telegraph</a></p>

<p>The Boardgame Geek database includes 26 language versions (see the pulldown for languages <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/320/scrabble/versions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>). That list doesn't include Chinese.</p>

<p>However: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble_letter_distributions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wiki</a> has a breakdown of most (all) language versions (including Chinese language version Zhuyin). </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T17:31:27.247Z
Some supplementary data: out of the top ten [most spoken languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_number_of_native_speakers), only 5/10 have their own Scrabble version.  There isn't one for Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Bengali, or Punjabi.
Joe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T17:33:35.733Z
I'll also note that the 29 figure might include multiples under each language. e.g., both the French-Canadian and the French versions are listed under French on BGG, while it could be that the Telegraph source counted them separately.
L. Scott Johnson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T20:31:27.193Z
I am dying to know what the letter breakdown is for the Welsh set. Soooo many consonants...
VBartilucci
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T20:37:11.020Z
Well I'm glad you asked. In researching, I found Wiki has a more complete answer than I initially gave. Welsh tile distribution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble_letter_distributions#Welsh
L. Scott Johnson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T20:40:59.093Z
I've updated my answer with the wiki information.
L. Scott Johnson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T17:25:12.810Z
2018-07-19T20:45:55.667Z
2018-07-19T20:45:55.667Z
L. Scott Johnson
<p>There are, obviously, different Scrabble sets for other countries with different letters and - I assume - alphabets. I also assume the letter breakdowns (and point values?) differ - letter commonality may not be the same between languages.</p>

<p>But are there any (major) languages that don't have a set? I don't know if Chinese has a phonetic alphabet in addition to kanji, so I can't imagine they could have one if they don't.  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T16:11:22.673Z
Please ask that side question separately. It's a valid question, but functionally unrelated to what you're asking here as far as answering goes.
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-21T14:10:41.907Z
@VBartilucci :Scrabble and Mattel are the joint owners of the copyright for Scrabble. https://www.zdnet.com/article/scrabble-ownership-and-the-public-domain  You could simply find out how in how many languages they publish the game.
Robert Miller
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-21T14:16:29.983Z
@Vbartilucci : Kanji is a Japanese writing system borrowed from the Chinese but the Chinese do not call it Kanji. Their phonetic writing system is called «Bopomofo» https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo
Robert Miller
<scrabble>
What languages / countries do not have a dedicated Scrabble set?
VBartilucci
# What languages / countries do not have a dedicated Scrabble set?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-19)

There are, obviously, different Scrabble sets for other countries with different letters and - I assume - alphabets. I also assume the letter breakdowns (and point values?) differ - letter commonality may not be the same between languages.

But are there any (major) languages that don't have a set? I don't know if Chinese has a phonetic alphabet in addition to kanji, so I can't imagine they could have one if they don't.

**Tags:** scrabble

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Please ask that side question separately. It's a valid question, but functionally unrelated to what you're asking here as far as answering goes.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 :Scrabble and Mattel are the joint owners of the copyright for Scrabble. https://www.zdnet.com/article/scrabble-ownership-and-the-public-domain  You could simply find out how in how many languages they publish the game.  
> **username_2**: @Vbartilucci : Kanji is a Japanese writing system borrowed from the Chinese but the Chinese do not call it Kanji. Their phonetic writing system is called «Bopomofo» https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-19. Score: 3

In 2008, there were 29 versions in different languages according to [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3776732/Scrabble-60-facts-for-its-60th-birthday.html)

The Boardgame Geek database includes 26 language versions (see the pulldown for languages [here](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/320/scrabble/versions)). That list doesn't include Chinese.

However: [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble_letter_distributions) has a breakdown of most (all) language versions (including Chinese language version Zhuyin).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Some supplementary data: out of the top ten [most spoken languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_number_of_native_speakers), only 5/10 have their own Scrabble version.  There isn't one for Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Bengali, or Punjabi.  
> **username_3**: I'll also note that the 29 figure might include multiples under each language. e.g., both the French-Canadian and the French versions are listed under French on BGG, while it could be that the Telegraph source counted them separately.  
> **username_0**: I am dying to know what the letter breakdown is for the Welsh set. Soooo many consonants...  
> **username_3**: Well I'm glad you asked. In researching, I found Wiki has a more complete answer than I initially gave. Welsh tile distribution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble_letter_distributions#Welsh  
> **username_3**: I've updated my answer with the wiki information.  

---

