ピカチュウ

Japanese

Etymology

Coined as a compound of ピカ (pika, “sparkle”, ultimately from the same root as 光る (hikaru, “to shine; to sparkle”)) +‎ チュー (chū, “squeak”, onomatopoeia). Unrelated to the animal pika (ultimately from Evenki [Term?])

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ピカチュウ [píꜜkàchùù] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [pʲika̠t͡ɕɨː]

Proper noun

ピカチュウ • (Pikachū) 

1. Pikachu (a Pokémon species)

Related terms

• ぴかぴか (pikapika, “glitteringly, sparklingly”)