What phrase was Pokémon initially shortened from when the project was renamed?

Pokémon was initially shortened from the phrase “Pocket Monsters.”

Game designer Satoshi Tajiri first developed the project under the working title Capsule Monsters. The name was later changed to Pocket Monsters, the Japanese franchise name written as Poketto Monsutā. Pokémon is a shortened romanized form of that phrase.

The title reflects the series’ central idea: creatures are stored in compact devices and carried by trainers. The concept was influenced by Tajiri’s childhood interest in collecting insects, as well as the link cable for the Game Boy, which suggested that players could exchange creatures with one another.

The English spelling Pokémon uses an acute accent over the e. That mark helps indicate the intended pronunciation and distinguishes the brand’s stylized name. “Pocket Monsters” remains the official Japanese title, while Pokémon is the internationally recognized form. Capsule Monsters is therefore the earlier project name, not the phrase from which Pokémon was shortened.