What is the Japanese title translated as “Pocket Monsters” for the Pokémon franchise?

The Japanese title translated as “Pocket Monsters” is Poketto Monsutā.

The Japanese franchise title is written ポケットモンスター and romanized as Poketto Monsutā. It was shortened internationally to Pokémon, with an acute accent over the e to help guide pronunciation in other languages.

The title reflects the original Game Boy concept: creatures could be captured and carried in compact storage devices. The name also distinguished the fictional creatures from ordinary monsters and helped establish the franchise’s collecting theme.

The full Japanese title remains important in the anime and game history. The first Japanese games were marketed as Pocket Monsters Red and Green, and the original television series was also titled Pocket Monsters. International branding adopted Pokémon instead, partly because “Pocket Monsters” could create naming and trademark complications in overseas markets. “Pokémon” is now used for both the franchise and its creatures; the word has the same singular and plural form.