Official Pronunciations for Mispronounced Pokémon Names Revealed at 2025 Pokémon Championships

The Pokémon franchise continues to evolve and engage fans across the globe, with new games, animated series, and competitive events keeping the brand at the forefront of the gaming industry.

During the recent 2025 Pokémon Championships, hosted in collaboration with The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, and Nintendo, an interesting update captured the attention of Pokémon trainers and fans worldwide—the official pronunciations of some of the most commonly mispronounced Pokémon names. Earlier this week, a widely-shared image from the 2025 Pokémon Championships clarified how to pronounce the name of the legendary Pokémon, Rayquaza.

According to organizers, the accurate pronunciation is 'ray-KWAY-zuh,' not the frequently used 'Ray-KWAH-zuh.' This clarification has helped set the record straight for countless fans who have debated the correct enunciation for years. Beyond Rayquaza, several other Pokémon names were also highlighted for common mispronunciations.

Championship officials released an expanded list to help fans correctly vocalize their favorites.

The Pokémon and their approved pronunciations, as officially shared at the event, include: - Illumise (pronounced EE-LOOM-MEE-ZAY) - Farigiraf (pronounced FUH-RIG-UH-RAFF) - Kingambit (pronounced KIHN-GAM-BIT) - Drapion (pronounced DRAP-EE-ON) A spokesperson at the 2025 Pokémon Championships emphasized the importance of aligning with the intended pronunciations, noting that, "Clear guidance on these names supports consistency across the competitive community and within official broadcast events." Pokémon’s legacy of over two decades has seen more than 1,000 unique creatures introduced across core games, spin-offs, and multimedia projects on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and the eShop.

Game Freak, the main developer behind the Pokémon series, and The Pokémon Company have consistently taken steps to educate players, especially as competitive play and global communications become increasingly central to the franchise's ongoing appeal. Mispronunciations have long fueled friendly debates within the Pokémon community, making these recent clarifications particularly valuable for trainers, broadcasters, and longtime fans.

The updated pronunciations will aid players in tournaments, official streams, and during fan discussions, ensuring everyone is speaking the same Pokémon language. This announcement comes at a time when the Pokémon brand remains stronger than ever, with recent releases topping sales charts and a thriving esports scene connecting trainers from all over the world.

For more updates on the Pokémon Championships, official game releases, and future announcements from Game Freak, The Pokémon Company, and Nintendo, keep an eye on official channels and major gaming news outlets.

Pokémon Rayquaza Farigiraf Nintendo Game Freak The Pokémon Company Illumise Kingambit Drapion Nintendo Switch 2025 Pokémon Championships