Did you know that according to the HOPL (Historical Encyclopaedia of Programming Languages) there are approximately 8945 programming languages, the majority of which are in English? This is due to the fact that most of the early advances in technology came from the US, UK and Canada and other English speaking countries.

And even some of the newer languages that come from other countries, like Python from the Netherlands or Lua from Brazil, are also in English, since English syntax is widespread throughout the world. And here are the non-English programming languages featured by Analytics India Magazine.

Top Non-English Programming Languages

Zhpy
Also known as ‘Chinese Python’, is a programming language that allows developers to write Python code using Chinese keywords and syntax. It isn’t a separate language but a variation of Python. It uses Python as its backend, which means that Zhpy code can be executed by a Python interpreter.

It allows developers to leverage the existing Python ecosystem and libraries while writing code in Chinese. It is commonly used in mainland China and Singapore. Traditional Chinese characters, used in Hong Kong and Taiwan, are not the focus of Zhpy.

Ruby
In 1993, Yukihiro Matsumoto created Ruby in Japan. He wanted to build an object-oriented programming language that could also be used for scripting. When originally published, Ruby had a Japanese section which was much more comprehensive. The Japanese Ruby community actively contributes to its development and evolution.

The Japanese Ruby community works on translating documentation, error messages, and programming resources into Japanese, ensuring that Japanese developers can work with Ruby more comfortably.

Haxe
Haxe is a high-level, cross-platform programming language that is known for its versatility and target platform compatibility. It supports multiple target platforms, including JavaScript, Flash, C++, and more. While Haxe itself is primarily based on English syntax and documentation, it has gained popularity and adoption in various non-English speaking countries.

Qalb
Qalb, the Arabic programming language developed by Ramsey Nasser, aims to provide a user-friendly and accessible coding experience for Arabic speakers. It has similar syntax and grammar rules as Lisp and Scheme and other programming languages. Qalb eliminates the language barrier that many Arabic-speaking individuals face when programming in English. It allows people to learn and practice programming concepts in their native language, which can make it easier for beginners to grasp the fundamentals of coding.

Citrine
​​Citrine is a programming language that places a strong emphasis on localisation as its core feature. It is designed to be translatable into every written human language, allowing developers to write code in their preferred language. For example, the West Frisian version of Citrine is known as Citrine/FY.

One of the key aspects of Citrine’s localisation is the translation of keywords, numbers, and punctuation into the target language. This means that developers can write code using keywords that are familiar and meaningful in their own language. Additionally, numbers and punctuation marks are also localized to match the conventions of the target language.