What is the original full Japanese name abbreviated as Pokémon?

The original full Japanese name abbreviated as Pokémon is Pocket Monsters.

The Japanese franchise title is Poketto Monsutā, written in English as Pocket Monsters. Pokémon is a shortened form of that title, combining “pocket” and “monsters.” The acute accent in Pokémon was added to help international audiences pronounce the name correctly.

The name reflects the original game concept: creatures are stored in compact Poké Balls and carried by Trainers. Satoshi Tajiri’s early idea was influenced by collecting insects and by the Game Boy Link Cable, which made it possible for players to exchange creatures between cartridges.

The title is not the same as the unrelated Digital Monster franchise, commonly known as Digimon. The two series both feature collectible or partner creatures, but they were created by different companies and have separate characters, worlds, and histories. Pokémon is also grammatically unusual in English because Pokémon is used for both singular and plural forms.