I once went out with an Italian guy who was shocked to learn they're called "Mario" and "Luigi" in America, too. He always assumed those were just names the Italian translators had made up to make the characters seem more acceptable to the Italian market.
As an italian I find it funny because the same exact thing happened to me with "panna cotta" ahah (it literally means cooked whipped cream and it is such a simple dessert i though it was just the italian name for it, didn't understand it was an italian thing to begin with)
It’s already been established that Luigi is Mario’s brother and presumably co-owner of the family plumbing business. Maybe they have a cousin named Wilhelm (translation of Luigi)? But why recreate the old Axis? The NEW Japan is much more prosperous!
It's probably worth noting that Mario fits into Japanese katakana (まりお). Not all Western names do this; nearly all Japanese syllables need to end in a vowel, the vowel sounds are formalized into a smaller set, and the phonemes don't always line up properly.
To add to Luigi, his name in Japanese, Ruiji, is actually a double-meaning, as one of the root words used means "double" in Japanese. Also, Wario's name is Wariu ("Bad Mario") in Japanese.
A little correction. Wario's name in Japan is a portmanteau of "Warui" (Japanese word for bad) and "Mario". Hence the meaning Bad Mario. Have a nice day~
Wario's Japanese name is still Wario, but it was indeed chosen because it's both close to the Japanese word "warui" than being just Mario with M upside down.
Miyamoto has confirmed _and_ denied Mario's full name being "Mario Mario" several times. Even he's not sure anymore. Also, the "Donkey Kong" in the original Donkey Kong game isn't the Donkey Kong we know and love today. He's actually Cranky Kong, the grandfather of the modern Donkey Kong, the one who debuted as the star of Donkey Kong Country.
Fun fact: the name "Mario" is soon going to become more common in Spanish speaking countries than in Italy. In fact, while Mario is still the most common name for male Italians, you will rarely find this name among young people, while that doesn't seem to be the case in Spanish speaking countries
Also, "Mario" fits very nicely into the Japanese language without any major adjustments: マリオ is literally ma-ri-o, Other names like "Luigi" still transition into Japanese pretty easily, but with minor adjustments: ルイージ is Ru-i-ji since there's no "L" in Japanese. Good examples of American words that don't transition into Japanese as smoothly are Starbucks スターバックス and McDonalds マクドナルド: Sutābakkusu and Makudonarudo. Languages like Italian, Spanish, and Hawaiian/Polynesian have similar consonant-vowel syllable patterns like Japanese so they can be more easily approximated. So, "Moana" in Japanese is just "mo-a-na," but "Cinderella" is "Shi-n-de-re-ra"
Interestingly, the Italian word for Cinderella, "Cenerentola," makes the Japanese transition more smoothly than the English word does. Words from languages like German, Russian, and English tend to be more difficult to produce in Japanese since they have a lot more consonants per syllable.
How about why they have "Super Mario" instead of just "Mario"? I remembered someone said that there is a game named "Mario" and it is like that platforms game with enemies appear on top and have POW in the middle. So, they called it "Super Mario" because it is a different game than the previous game.
Fun fact about Godzilla’s name since he was mentioned here: did you know Godzilla’s Japanese name (gojira) is a mix between the world gorilla and kujira (whale in Japanese) so the gorilla part comes from Godzilla’s strength and durability while the whale part comes from Godzilla’s size and the fact that he’s a sea creature
In an episode of the American TV show MAJOR DAD, the title character and his wife are expecting another child; when asked for ideas for a name, one of the girls says "How about Mario or Luigi?" The Major says "Well, that's Italian"; the girl says " No, it's Nintendo!"
I know the iberian one is named after the Gauls who at some point inhabited the area. This can also be seen in Portugal's name. Port... of... gaul. I don't know about the slavic one.
@@paulodebourgogne onde foi que viste que portugal vem de port of gaul? sempre ouvi que vem de portus cale, que em ingles traduzem para port o cale..já que portugal começou no condado portucalense.
@@magnilsonmelo3581 eu me lembro de ter visto um video sobre isso em algum lugar. Mas acho que o depois de assistir um video mais recente do Name Explain parece que eu não estava totalmente correto. E eu acho que a tradução para o inglês de "Portus Cale" é Port of Gaul, não?
Mario is an Italian created by the Japanese who speaks English, looks like a Mexican, runs like a black man and collects coins like a Jew. He doesn't need a name change because he is already a cultured legend.
Interestingly, Luigi’s name is by no means Japanese in origin, as he was called Ruiji meaning similar in Japanese as he was simply a color swap of Mario during his debut in Mario Bros. His name was westernized as Luigi (from a restaurant near its American HQ believe it or not), which fits the Italian naming convention with Mario.
His name was chosen by Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Japan accepted, only afterwards the devs noticed the Japanese spelling was Ruiji, which fitted because it means similar.
For those who don't know, the Warpstar Warrior's namesake is John J. Kirby Jr., the lawyer who defended Nintendo from Universal Studios over the King Kong vs. Donkey Kong lawsuit.
Nintendo did get the rights for the Popeye game. I think it came out about a year after Donkey Kong. It was very similar to Donkey Kong, but not quite as good. So if they'd waited just a little longer, they could've gone ahead and done Popeye without ever creating Mario. But then, it's possible they were only able to get the Popeye rights because of all the money they made from Donkey Kong. I'm not really sure how they ended up getting the rights.
Before even watching the video I can tell you it's because they gave him a moustache because they couldn't fix the pixels above his mouth and nothing else. Decided to make him Italian then. That's why.
@@HBKnowItAll - The Caucasus region was defined by the Caucasus range and Iberia is the region where the Iberian people once lived, which is now generally Portugal and Eastern Spain. It has nothing to do with the Caucasus.
@@hepchaos There was a Kingdom of Iberia within the Caucasus region in antiquity, which has nothing to do with the European one. It's something that still confuses people.
Octavian Popa when we hit $1000 on Patreon I plan to celebrate by making a huge video explaining how every state in the USA got their name and nickname :D
@@NameExplain like my state Assam Even though the people are Indo-Aryan they are named after a tai group( ahom ) and in the native tongue the name is axomia ( x as in kh or the second Hindi consonant)
Yes. In the Super Mario Bros. movie, a policeman asked the full names of Mario and Luigi. Mario said his full name, Mario Mario and Luigi said his full name, Luigi Mario.
Necessity is the mother of invention. This applies wholly to the early days of film and gaming in which the limitations of the medium resulted in great outside the box ingenuity.
Now would be a good time to talk about that other character who also wears a hat comsidering this late November they will be releasing a game featuring said character. Cough cough. Great vid btw.
In the last decade or so, I have seen reference to Captain Haddock only twice. Even more strangely, they have both been in the last HALF-HOUR. Okay, universe, I get it, now KNOCK IT THE HELL OFF. If there's a third, we shall Have Words. >:C
Can you do one now explaining how, "Itsumi" is a surname, and then research whether it's even in the Japanese game, or if the translator on the American translation was named Itsumi, or if it's a weird coincidence or what?
Mario is a name extremely easy to pronounce for Japanese people and easy to write in katakana, that is probably why the creator chose it. Mario = マリオ Ma = マ ri = リ o = オ unlike names in English like Brian which will be written Bur-ri-a-n and pronounced in 4 syllables while in English is just 2
What's your favourite Mario game? I love Galaxy but Odyssey is fantastic too!
same!
Mario Galaxy 2 is my fav.
64, Bros. 2 or 3, Galaxy, Sunshine or World
pretty much games with open hub
Super Mario Maker
Name Explain
Super Mario 3
I once went out with an Italian guy who was shocked to learn they're called "Mario" and "Luigi" in America, too. He always assumed those were just names the Italian translators had made up to make the characters seem more acceptable to the Italian market.
Oh hi JJ!
u gay??!!?!?
As an italian I find it funny because the same exact thing happened to me with "panna cotta" ahah (it literally means cooked whipped cream and it is such a simple dessert i though it was just the italian name for it, didn't understand it was an italian thing to begin with)
Hey J.J.
He is stupid
Next episode: Why doesn't Luigi have a Japanese name?
His name is actually based on Japanese word "Ruiji" meaning "similar", since he was originaly just a Mario clone
Lucas Knox
According to one source Luigi got his name due to a restaurant close to Nintendo HQ
@@sciblastofficial9833 Just like how Mario is also believed to come from "marionnette"
@Anonymous A880 Let Jon Solo answer that...
Lucas Knox Basically a colorswap of Mario.
Be on the lookout for the upcoming biography...
_"Mario Mario: A Pile of Pixels"_
Mario is my favorite anime
You're late, Justin. How'd that happen??
he is the most powerful anime character, too
Justin Y. Wow that was quick
Hey Justin. Remember me from yesterday?
You're 8 minutes late Justin
Now Luigi needs a German name to recreate the Axis
@@alexandrine1558 Romania to right
It’s already been established that Luigi is Mario’s brother and presumably co-owner of the family plumbing business.
Maybe they have a cousin named Wilhelm (translation of Luigi)? But why recreate the old Axis? The NEW Japan is much more prosperous!
Wario was supposed to be German at some point. They kind of abandoned it, but it was a thing.
@@magicsword49did waluigi too?
Ludwig
Luigi? you mean Green Mario
At least not puke green.
Mario? You mean Red Luigi
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Green Waluigi look alike
@@simok8443 Red Luigi Mario
It's probably worth noting that Mario fits into Japanese katakana (まりお). Not all Western names do this; nearly all Japanese syllables need to end in a vowel, the vowel sounds are formalized into a smaller set, and the phonemes don't always line up properly.
hold on that's not the japanese katakana
@@AzamMujahidProductionsマリオwould be correct
Why are some places called the motherland and others, the fatherland?
*Usually* because the name of the country or the word for "country" in the local language is either masculine or feminine in that language.
In germany it's neutrum. What about that?
@@toboterxp8155 Apparently Hitler was alone in calling it the motherland for weird Freudian reasons.
Because some countries are sexist and some are not.
betarage /s?
Mario, the name, can also be seen as the masculine version of Maria and Luigi is the italian version of Louis/Ludwig
Japanese are allies with the Italians.
The Japanese commemorate this friendship by naming the popular character with an Italian name
Mario is an Italian character created by the Japanese yet he has a mustache that looks like it's from Stalin who dominated the Russians and others.
To add to Luigi, his name in Japanese, Ruiji, is actually a double-meaning, as one of the root words used means "double" in Japanese.
Also, Wario's name is Wariu ("Bad Mario") in Japanese.
Lewa, Toa of Air Waruigi is cool too
A little correction. Wario's name in Japan is a portmanteau of "Warui" (Japanese word for bad) and "Mario". Hence the meaning Bad Mario.
Have a nice day~
Vor Alles I'd say your comment is more contribution/clarification than correction, so thanks.
Wario's Japanese name is still Wario, but it was indeed chosen because it's both close to the Japanese word "warui" than being just Mario with M upside down.
Miyamoto has confirmed _and_ denied Mario's full name being "Mario Mario" several times. Even he's not sure anymore.
Also, the "Donkey Kong" in the original Donkey Kong game isn't the Donkey Kong we know and love today. He's actually Cranky Kong, the grandfather of the modern Donkey Kong, the one who debuted as the star of Donkey Kong Country.
Which means that Jumpman is Mario's grandpa
Wait, then who the fuck is Jumpman?
His full name is Mario Luigi
@@santoriomaker69 No, Mario and Jumpman are the same.
Gorillas has half the lifespan of humans.
Fun fact: the name "Mario" is soon going to become more common in Spanish speaking countries than in Italy. In fact, while Mario is still the most common name for male Italians, you will rarely find this name among young people, while that doesn't seem to be the case in Spanish speaking countries
Ma sei ovunque, anche nei commenti di insta
@@Bolognabeef K
After Luigi came along, I used to tell people that Pauline was actually Luigi in drag.
Mario's younger brother "Luigi" is similar sound of Japanese word "ruji" . "ruiji" means "similar".
There is such a legend.
Do an episode on why English people can't pronounce "pasta" or "Mario" with an ah sound like it's god damned supposed to be.
It's not fucking parsta
It is to me Tea Leaf Green.
@@tealeafgreen8505 ?
Shut up idiot why would you pronounce it Pahsta or Mahrio
@@ubermenschnuts81 because it's italian.
Also Mario's name is easy to pronounce in Japanese, as all syllables in his name match a katakana symbol
Ma ri o
マ リ オ
Also, Mario is very easy to say in the Japanese tongue.
Not unlike Ruiji, Toudo, Pichi, Bauzā and Kupa Tsurupā.
マリオ
マリオ
@@elimalinsky7069bauza in japan is kuppa toado in japan is kinopiyo
"Mario" in some places and "Mary-o" in others.
Nikki M. Solis Supa Merio
It's Mah. Englishman are pronouncing it wrong.
Love hearing Jump Up, Superstar! in the backround
So when are we going to get a video about the division of English between American and British that explains why you call overalls “dungarees”?
I second this
Interesting. When I was playing Luigi's Mansion 2 and E. Gadd talked about Luigi's dungarees, I thought it was just some weird word. Cool.
Because the landlord in Seattle who owned the space where donkey Kong copies were held was named MARIO segale
He mentioned that already, but that's a good summary
Also, "Mario" fits very nicely into the Japanese language without any major adjustments: マリオ is literally ma-ri-o, Other names like "Luigi" still transition into Japanese pretty easily, but with minor adjustments: ルイージ is Ru-i-ji since there's no "L" in Japanese. Good examples of American words that don't transition into Japanese as smoothly are Starbucks スターバックス and McDonalds マクドナルド: Sutābakkusu and Makudonarudo. Languages like Italian, Spanish, and Hawaiian/Polynesian have similar consonant-vowel syllable patterns like Japanese so they can be more easily approximated. So, "Moana" in Japanese is just "mo-a-na," but "Cinderella" is "Shi-n-de-re-ra"
Interestingly, the Italian word for Cinderella, "Cenerentola," makes the Japanese transition more smoothly than the English word does. Words from languages like German, Russian, and English tend to be more difficult to produce in Japanese since they have a lot more consonants per syllable.
Japanese language is syllabic therefore the absence of consonant clusters.
I love how open minded japanese people are, they know very well the steps to the future with respect to the past but not living in it.
How about why they have "Super Mario" instead of just "Mario"? I remembered someone said that there is a game named "Mario" and it is like that platforms game with enemies appear on top and have POW in the middle. So, they called it "Super Mario" because it is a different game than the previous game.
Mario. Create by Japan, has an Italian name and has a Russian mustache. Which means, Mario was an Italo-Russo-Japanese character.
If you think about it Mario still fits as a Japanese name because all Japanese words end with a vowel like Pikachu or Tokyo.
And actually Mario can be a Japanese male name by picking up some Kanji with suitable sounds, like 摩利男.
Bigger question is why is Mario's moustache black but his hair is brown?
I've been asking that question for years
Fun fact about Godzilla’s name since he was mentioned here: did you know Godzilla’s Japanese name (gojira) is a mix between the world gorilla and kujira (whale in Japanese) so the gorilla part comes from Godzilla’s strength and durability while the whale part comes from Godzilla’s size and the fact that he’s a sea creature
It took me a while to realize dungarees meant overalls
The “jump up superstar” in the back is a great touch
In an episode of the American TV show MAJOR DAD, the title character and his wife are expecting another child; when asked for ideas for a name, one of the girls says "How about Mario or Luigi?" The Major says "Well, that's Italian"; the girl says " No, it's Nintendo!"
Mario Is Also used in germany...Is a Roman ancient name...the original name Is ."Marius".
Last time Italy and Japan had to do with each other, it didn't end well...
They ended up doing better with Mario
Idea! Why are there two galicias?
Yeah
I know the iberian one is named after the Gauls who at some point inhabited the area. This can also be seen in Portugal's name. Port... of... gaul. I don't know about the slavic one.
@@paulodebourgogne onde foi que viste que portugal vem de port of gaul? sempre ouvi que vem de portus cale, que em ingles traduzem para port o cale..já que portugal começou no condado portucalense.
@@magnilsonmelo3581 eu me lembro de ter visto um video sobre isso em algum lugar. Mas acho que o depois de assistir um video mais recente do Name Explain parece que eu não estava totalmente correto. E eu acho que a tradução para o inglês de "Portus Cale" é Port of Gaul, não?
@@paulodebourgogne não acho que esteja, pq gaul é gália, que é em frança e outros países perto.
Mario is an Italian created by the Japanese who speaks English, looks like a Mexican, runs like a black man and collects coins like a Jew. He doesn't need a name change because he is already a cultured legend.
FACTS MA GUY
That's racist :( ima cry like a baby 4 attention :( STOP
And fights a "dragon", like every typical european fairytale from the middle ages
BonBon Box
Exactly a dragon turtle 🐢
Stolen meme from reddit.
Interestingly, Luigi’s name is by no means Japanese in origin, as he was called Ruiji meaning similar in Japanese as he was simply a color swap of Mario during his debut in Mario Bros. His name was westernized as Luigi (from a restaurant near its American HQ believe it or not), which fits the Italian naming convention with Mario.
His name was chosen by Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Japan accepted, only afterwards the devs noticed the Japanese spelling was Ruiji, which fitted because it means similar.
For those who don't know, the Warpstar Warrior's namesake is John J. Kirby Jr., the lawyer who defended Nintendo from Universal Studios over the King Kong vs. Donkey Kong lawsuit.
And here I always thought he took his name from the vacuum brand. Learn something new every day.
Donkey 🐴
I have a Greek friend who makes plots on Plotagon. Her original character Detective Javier Hamilton is American or British but she lives in Greece.
I wonder how Segale took this
He was like "meh", and wanted people to remember him more for his construction jobs
According to the book _The_Ultimate_History_of_Video_Games_ Mario Segal was gracious to Nintendo, and so they thanked him by naming Jumpman after him.
Where can I find that chiptune version of Mario Jump from Mario Odyssey. You can here it here 0:30 in the background
Forget it I was too stupid to read further
So Mario is an Italian character but a Japanese creation?
Yes his Japanese creator intended him to be an Italian character
Nintendo did get the rights for the Popeye game. I think it came out about a year after Donkey Kong. It was very similar to Donkey Kong, but not quite as good.
So if they'd waited just a little longer, they could've gone ahead and done Popeye without ever creating Mario. But then, it's possible they were only able to get the Popeye rights because of all the money they made from Donkey Kong. I'm not really sure how they ended up getting the rights.
Before even watching the video I can tell you it's because they gave him a moustache because they couldn't fix the pixels above his mouth and nothing else. Decided to make him Italian then. That's why.
I used to think Nintendo was an Italian company
Yes
saw the title and knew the answer: he's italian
Uuum no Italian mustache stereotype was made due to Mario, Mario was not due to it
WTF, I just thought about this today?!
Can you discuss the difference between Siberia and Iberia (like the Iberian peninsula)?
One is Russia, the other is Spain, generally speaking.
@@hepchaos historically, Iberia was in the Caucasus region.
@@HBKnowItAll - The Caucasus region was defined by the Caucasus range and Iberia is the region where the Iberian people once lived, which is now generally Portugal and Eastern Spain. It has nothing to do with the Caucasus.
@@HBKnowItAll true
@@hepchaos There was a Kingdom of Iberia within the Caucasus region in antiquity, which has nothing to do with the European one. It's something that still confuses people.
Question for 1 000 000$.
Which of these fictional characters did not came from Japan.
a) Pikachu b) Yu gi oh
c) Mario d) Zuko
What will happen when you reach 1000 dollars?
Octavian Popa when we hit $1000 on Patreon I plan to celebrate by making a huge video explaining how every state in the USA got their name and nickname :D
@@NameExplain how about one on the states of india
@@NameExplain like my state Assam
Even though the people are Indo-Aryan they are named after a tai group( ahom ) and in the native tongue the name is axomia ( x as in kh or the second Hindi consonant)
Didn't Mario Segale also have a brother named Luigi?
If what you say about Mario coming from Mars is true, that would give Mario and Marth form Fire Emblem a connection as his name also comes from Mars.
You can also spell mario with japanese characterd without any trick translations
I wonder what the landlord thought of Mario
didnt even know it is your video. clicked it because it seemed so interesting and it is!
Nintendo was shipping Super Mario Bros and ended in a warehouse in Seattle.
And guess what its landlord's name was...
The Power of Butterfly Effect.
Imagine the Landlord named.. *Bob.*
Super Bob Brothers, his brother's name is Jeff
Mario is that Italian name
Wait wait wait, we found the original Mario? I thought he refused to come forward.
So Mario Mario and Luigi Mario?
Yes. In the Super Mario Bros. movie, a policeman asked the full names of Mario and Luigi. Mario said his full name, Mario Mario and Luigi said his full name, Luigi Mario.
I guess they were named by their mama Mario.
Also in Japan less people eat milk food and Mario likes pasta in cream but the thing is he live with his brother in Brooklyn.
If mario is mario's surname, and luigi is his brother, then luigi is luigi mario.
Why are some japanese words similair to spanish, german, french and english words that mean the same thing?
Because Empire.
Man… imagine being that landlord. He got owned so fucking hard
He didn’t get owned tho
He was also called Ossan early in development which means "middle-aged guy"
Turns out he was just 23
Necessity is the mother of invention. This applies wholly to the early days of film and gaming in which the limitations of the medium resulted in great outside the box ingenuity.
i’ve never been able to beat a side scrolling mario game
If Mario is called Mario Mario, is Luigi called Luigi Mario?
ironic that the reason crash bandicoot is orange is the exact reason real bandicoots aren't
because of the damn axis.
Why did Peach's name used to be Toadstool?
Just found out that Warui ko- Japanese word meaning ‘bad child,’ which is very similar to Wario, Mario’s arch-rival. What do you think??
The BGM is “Jump Up, Super Star!”!!!!!! (Tears) 😭😆
Are you gay?
3:34 poods is taking over
Name Explain should do his part
If you could do this for the rest of the Mario characters is one episode, I'd appreciate that
Please make a print of 0:45 with Kratos!Mario (Marius?)
Now would be a good time to talk about that other character who also wears a hat comsidering this late November they will be releasing a game featuring said character. Cough cough. Great vid btw.
In the last decade or so, I have seen reference to Captain Haddock only twice. Even more strangely, they have both been in the last HALF-HOUR. Okay, universe, I get it, now KNOCK IT THE HELL OFF. If there's a third, we shall Have Words. >:C
I thought mario mario only originated from the live action movie?
But where does the name Luigi come from?
I thought Mario's name came from a janitor or something?
No, he’s not called MaYrIo everywhere. He’s called *Mario*
merry-oh!
What's the origin of Luigi?
Luigi's was the name of the Italian restaurant the Nintendo of America staff used to eat lunch at.
Because he's Mario. Mario is Mario.
"why are irish names spelled the way they are and pronounce the way they are?"
Can you do one now explaining how, "Itsumi" is a surname, and then research whether it's even in the Japanese game, or if the translator on the American translation was named Itsumi, or if it's a weird coincidence or what?
Fun fact, he doesn't say "it's a me Mario". He's saying itsumi Mario. In English, itsumi means "super"
"Japan has given us multiple cultural icons."
*Shows american Godzilla*
I have a cousin named Gilbert Gilbert, how do you explain that?
Mario is a name extremely easy to pronounce for Japanese people and easy to write in katakana, that is probably why the creator chose it. Mario = マリオ
Ma = マ
ri = リ
o = オ
unlike names in English like Brian which will be written Bur-ri-a-n and pronounced in 4 syllables while in English is just 2
Konichiwa Neko isn't so catchy, so I get that one.
Is it weird that I already know all these facts?
Poor Luigi indeed.
Even dough it isnt cannon i still believe Mario's last name is Video
Dafuq did I just read?
What did you called an overall?
He did called it a dungarees.