How to Say "Alphabet" in Other Languages

The alphabet is the foundation of language. From learning your first letters to studying a foreign script, alphabets are a gateway to communication, culture, and knowledge.

But how do people across the globe refer to this essential word?

Join us as we explore how to say “alphabet” in other languages, complete with fun facts, emojis, and a touch of global flair!

🧠 European Languages – Linguist’s Choice 📚

🇫🇷 French – Alphabet

Pronounced al-fa-bay, it comes directly from Latin and Greek roots.
👉 Example: L’alphabet français a 26 lettres. – The French alphabet has 26 letters.

🇩🇪 German – Alphabet

Spelled the same, but pronounced AHL-fah-bet.
👉 Example: Das deutsche Alphabet ist leicht zu lernen. – The German alphabet is easy to learn.

🇮🇹 Italian – Alfabeto

Melodic and Roman in tone.
👉 Example: L’alfabeto italiano ha 21 lettere. – The Italian alphabet has 21 letters.

🇪🇸 Spanish – Alfabeto

Derived from the Greek alpha and beta.
👉 Example: Estoy aprendiendo el alfabeto español. – I’m learning the Spanish alphabet.

🌏 Asian Languages – Script & Symbol Stars ✨

🇯🇵 Japanese – アルファベット (Arufabetto)

This is the loanword for foreign alphabets. Native scripts include Hiragana (ひらがな), Katakana (カタカナ), and Kanji (漢字).
👉 Example: 英語のアルファベットを勉強しています。 – I’m studying the English alphabet.

🇰🇷 Korean – 알파벳 (Alpabet)

Used when referring to the Latin alphabet. The native script is Hangul (한글).
👉 Example: 한글은 한국어의 알파벳입니다. – Hangul is the Korean alphabet.

🇨🇳 Chinese (Mandarin) – 字母 (Zìmǔ)

Literally means “character mother” (a poetic way to say “alphabet”).
👉 Example: 汉语拼音使用拉丁字母。 – Chinese Pinyin uses Latin letters.

🌍 African Languages – Cultural Scrolls 📜

🇸🇿 Zulu – Uhlamvu lwezinhlamvu (letter of letters)

A descriptive term reflecting the structure of language.
👉 Example: Ngifunda uhlamvu lwezinhlamvu lwesiNgisi. – I’m learning the English alphabet.

🇸🇴 Somali – Alifbeetada

Derived from Arabic and adapted into Somali.
👉 Example: Carruurtu waxay baranayaan alifbeetada. – The children are learning the alphabet.

🕌 Middle Eastern Languages – Scripted Sands 🏜️

🇸🇦 Arabic – أبجدية (Abjadiyya)

Derived from the first four letters of the Arabic script: alif, baa, jeem, daal.
👉 Example: أنا أتعلم الأبجدية العربية. – I’m learning the Arabic alphabet.

🇮🇷 Persian (Farsi) – الفبا (Alef-bā)

Also rooted in the traditional Arabic-based script.
👉 Example: من الفبای فارسی را دوست دارم. – I love the Persian alphabet.

🏝️ Indigenous & Island Languages – Hidden Glyphs 🪶

🇵🇭 Tagalog – Alpabeto

Adapted from Spanish during colonial times.
👉 Example: Ang alpabetong Filipino ay may 28 titik. – The Filipino alphabet has 28 letters.

🇳🇿 Māori – Ngā reta

Translates as “the letters.”
👉 Example: Kei te ako ahau i ngā reta Māori. – I’m learning the Māori alphabet.

🔠 Bonus: Fun Alphabet Facts From Around the World

🏛️ The word “alphabet” comes from the Greek Alpha (Α) and Beta (Β).
🇷🇺 The Russian alphabet is called Cyrillic and has 33 letters.
🇮🇳 India has multiple scripts: Devanagari (used in Hindi), Tamil, Telugu, and more.
📜 Ancient scripts like Hebrew and Aramaic have shaped alphabets globally.

✨ Final Thoughts – Language Begins with the Alphabet

No matter the country, culture, or dialect, every language starts with its alphabet—whether it’s a Roman script, an ideographic system, or something entirely unique.

Now that you know how to say “alphabet” in other languages, you’re one step closer to unlocking the world’s languages, one letter at a time. 🌐🗣️