Each of the names of the more than 1,000 Pokémon that exist have not been chosen based on pounding the keyboard and see what came out. Actually they all make a lot of sense when it comes to Word games or the fact that they are based on something specific or even on someone in the real world, which is exactly what happens in the case of Hitmonchan y Hitmonlee.
These two Fighting-type Pokémon appeared for the first time in Pokémon Red and Blue, the first installments of the saga, since then becoming two of the best-known Pokémon of this type due to their design, since it is clear that one is based on the boxing matches and the other on kicking, so it makes perfect sense that they are Fighting-types.
Although they were originally introduced as two completely different Pokémon, they are actually directly related, because both are evolutions of Tyrogue, one of the Pokémon that debuted in the second generation of the franchise. What’s more, the latter is even capable of evolving into a third different Pokémon, as is the case with Hitmontop.
Returning to the subject of names, the cases of Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee are very striking, because in the case of both are related to fighters or martial arts experts which are known worldwide. Its references in English are well known, but the curious thing is that this example has been followed in other countries around the world.
Hitmonchan
In English it comes from “hit” (hit) and “chan”, referring to the actor and martial arts expert Jackie Chan. In Japanese he is called Girls, making reference to the famous Japanese boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara. In French it is called Tygnonby Mike Tyson. In German it is called Nockhan, from “knock” and “chan”, again for Jackie Chan. In Korean it is called Hongsoomonreferring to Korean boxer Hong Soo-hwan.
Hitmonlee
In English it comes from “hit” (hit) and “lee”, referring to the actor and martial arts expert Bruce Lee. In Japanese it is called Sawamular, which comes from the famous Japanese kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. In French and German it is called Kicklee, combining “kick” (kick) with “lee”, again for Bruce Lee. In Korean it is called Sirasomonwhich refers to Sirasoni, the nickname of a South Korean street gentleman.
Apart from all this, in the case of Hitmontop his name does not come from any known fighter. Instead, instead its design and especially its attacks were taken as a basisHence, in English its name is a mixture of “hit” (to hit), “mon” (monster) and “top” (spinning top). For the rest, in French, German and Korean it is called Capoerafor capoeira, the Brazilian martial art, while in Japanese practically the same example has been followed by calling Kapoerer.
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