Official guide lists pronunciations for 22 Pokémon

A pronunciation guide attributed to The Pokémon Company was published online recently listing phonetic spellings for 22 Pokémon names. The guide presents simple phonetic renderings with the stressed syllable capitalized and records reader responses for several entries.

The guide covers Pokémon from multiple generations and notes when parts of names derive from other languages. It avoids the International Phonetic Alphabet and uses accessible approximations instead, citing localization, puns and English pronunciation rules as common reasons for disagreement.

The guide provides official pronunciations for the 22 entries: Arceus (Ark-ee-us), Alomomola (uh-Loh-muh-Moh-luh), Chinchou (Chin-chow), Hydreigon (hai-Drai-gon), Illumise (ee-loo-Mee-zay), Linoone (lai-Noon), Kyogre (kai-Oh-guh), Kyurem (Kyoor-rem), Mienshao (Meen-shau), Nihilego (nai-uh-Lee-go), Quaquaval (Kwak-wuh-vul), Rattata (Ra-tat-ta), Rayquaza (ray-Kway-zuh), Regice (Redge-ice), Reuniclus (ree-yoo-Nee-klus), Shiinotic (shee-Nah-tik), Silvally (sil-Val-ai), Sudowoodo (Soo-doe-Woo-doe), Suicune (Swee-koon), Xatu (Zah-too), Yveltal (ee-Vel-tal) and Zoroark (Zor-oh-ark). The guide notes, for example, that Hydreigon’s middle syllable comes from the German word for “three.”

The online feature included an embedded poll about how readers pronounce the word “Pokémon,” which recorded 1,308 votes, and it kept older reader poll results active for entries covered in prior votes. The guide also invited readers to submit additional divisive names and comment on variants.

The guide states that many players will continue to use regional or personal variants and that disagreements over pronunciation arise from different native tongues, localization choices and wordplay in original names.