Official translations of Pokemon BW starters released

• Laconicus wrote on 2010-11-23 04:26
  They were released today along with the name of the new region.
  
  

  [Image: http://pokemonblackandwhite.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Isshu.jpg]

  
  Original Japanese name: イッシュ (Isshu) (can mean "one type")
  New English name: Unova (possibly from Latin "unum nova" meaning "one new")
  
  

  [Image: http://www.arkeis.com/images/animations/495.gif]

  
  Japanese: ツタージャ (Tsutaaja or Tsutarja) (combination of "tsuta" meaning "ivy" and "ja," the Chinese reading of the kanji meaning "snake")
  English: Snivy (possibly a combination of "snide" and "ivy" or "snake" and "ivy")
  
  

  [Image: http://www.arkeis.com/images/animations/498.gif]

  
  Japanese: ポカブ (Pokabu) (combination of "poka" meaning "reckless" and "kabu" meaning "cub")
  English: Tepig (combination of "tepid" and "pig")
  
  

  [Image: http://www.arkeis.com/images/animations/501.gif]

  
  Japanese: ミジュマル (Mijumaru)
  English: Oshawott (ocean + water + otter?)
  
  Official site
  
  And the internet rages as "Smugleaf" is denied
• Arthik wrote on 2010-11-23 04:26
  NO SMUGLEAF? FUUUUU-
  

  [Image: http://memegenerator.net/smugleaf/ImageMacro/1156079/smugleaf-You-know-whats-the-best-part-about-the-video-game-industry-Me.jpg]
• Phunkie wrote on 2010-11-23 04:26
  Oshawott sounds interesting.
  
  Snivy is cute.
  
  Tepig reminds me of tehpig. So no.
• Arsik wrote on 2010-11-23 04:31
  Don't see how Tsutaja is "sniveling", Nintendo should have listened to the internet and named it Smugleaf. I mean, they eventually listened to the internet and brought Sonic to the Smash series, even though Sonic isn't any way related to Nintendo (and Nintendo can't say they bought the Sonic franchise either, so, yeah).
  
  Oshawott is just weird to pronounce. And who cares about the pig? It's just another recycled starter.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-11-23 04:33
  ...Oshawott?
  
  /bursts out laughing.
  
  OSHAWOTT
  OH HO HO.
  
  Tehpig, and SnivelingSnivy.
  
  Y NO SMUGLEAF? </3
  
  
  Unova...? No..
• JustNoOne wrote on 2010-11-23 04:39
  It will be forever in my heart Smugleaf!
  
  SCREW YOU NINTENDO DX you broke another man's heart </3
• Arsik wrote on 2010-11-23 04:44
  Guarantee that 99% of players who choose Snivy will give it the name Smugleaf.
• Combusken wrote on 2010-11-23 04:44
  How is it a combination of sniveling + ivy :V It makes more sense for snake + ivy or even snide + ivy. I think it's much more creative than Smugleaf, anyway. >_>;
  
  All the names are actually pretty cool :B
• Okitaru wrote on 2010-11-23 07:39
  I would Excalibur/Smugleaf mixed picture troll this thread if I weren't sad that it gets no smugleaf naming.
• jking012 wrote on 2010-11-23 12:23
  whichever 1 i choose i'll just name it their original japanese name thank you >.>
• Laconicus wrote on 2010-11-23 13:54

  Quote from Combusken;225563:

  How is it a combination of sniveling + ivy :V It makes more sense for snake + ivy or even snide + ivy. I think it's much more creative than Smugleaf, anyway. >_>;
  
  All the names are actually pretty cool :B

  That's just what I read off of another forum, but now that you mention it, snide + ivy definitely sounds a lot more like it. *edits into post*
• Ruquion wrote on 2010-11-23 15:12

  Quote from Laconicus;225514:

  the Chinese reading of the kanji meaning "snake"

  
  Uh... Random post is random, but I don't really see any Kanji there... It's all Hiragana...
• Laconicus wrote on 2010-11-23 15:30

  Quote from Ruquion;225810:

  Uh... Random post is random, but I don't really see any Kanji there... It's all Hiragana...

  Well all pokemon names are written in katakana because until BW the games didn't support kanji (since they were made for kids who can't read all the kanji, and because gameboys didn't have good enough resolution to display kanji well). If you were to write "tsutaaja" in kanji it would look something like 蔦ー蛇, with the first character meaning "ivy," the second being a lengthening of the "a" sound, and the third one meaning "snake"
• Kanam wrote on 2010-11-23 17:31
  Gamefaq joke: Unova
  United State OV America
  
  I kinda like Snivy, Tepig....no
  Oshawott kinda sound cool imo.
• silentselene wrote on 2010-11-23 19:08
  I actually thought Smugleaf/Pignite/Wotter was more fitting. Oh well.