Talking Pokémon

Talking Pokémon are who can speak a human language. The human language itself is not clearly depicted, and all people in the Pokémon world seem to speak one common language, which is always referred to just as human language (however, since Generation IV, it is possible to collect foreign Pokédex entries, and there are NPCs who speak foreign languages). While it appears that all Pokémon can understand human speech, very few can communicate with humans, except via body language. There are exceptions to this, however, depending on the version of the Pokémon world being depicted.
==In the core series games==
===Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen===
In and their , 's is able to speak a line of human language when approached. Also, Bill, when transformed into a Pokémon, can speak human language at his house on . In addition, the 's can talk.
===Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver===
In Generation II and their Generation IV remakes, a owned by Team Rocket tells the the password to the generator room in the Team Rocket HQ.
===Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire===
In and their , Mr. Stone wants to be able to communicate with , so he started a project for Devon Corporation intending to build a translation device for Pokémon; however, not much progress has been made.
===Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl===
In , , Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl, while is not able to speak directly, it is presumed that the man inside the is an illusion created by Darkrai, through which it is able to communicate with the player during the Member Card event.
===Pokémon Black 2 and White 2===
In , if the player visits Lostlorn Forest, a is disguised as a who talks to the player and gives them before dispelling its illusion and leaving. Also, in Pokéstar Studios, the final film of the Love and Battles Series has a talking , and the Timegate Traveler Series features a talking .
===Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon===
In and , can speak while inhabiting the Rotom Pokédex. In Sun and Moon only, also speaks to the player through their Z-Ring before challenging them to a battle at the end of the game. A at the Aether House tells the player it will curse them when spoken to as well. An in the Konikoni City also tells the player to "Gu do it!"
===Pokémon Sword and Shield===
In , a in the hotel will bid the player welcome if approached.
In Sword and Shield's The Crown Tundra , is revealed to have the ability to speak through humans. It frequently takes over Peony in order to communicate with the player.
===Pokémon Legends: Arceus===
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, speaks the human language in what seems to be Early Modern English. The lake guardians also telepathically speak to the player during the game's climax. and are also capable of telepathy, although they only speak to Adaman and Irida respectively.
===Pokédex entries===
's Pokédex entries state that it is being able to speak the human language. This relates to its signature move .
's Pokédex entries state that it can telepathically speak with humans.
The Pokédex entries for , , , , , and mention their ability to understand human speech, leaving it unclear as to whether other Pokémon can understand it as well.
==In the side series games==
===Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness===
Prior to the events of , Dr. Kaminko developed a device that was meant to translate a Pokémon's speech, but it failed and was scrapped. A major post-game quest details the 's efforts to undo its effects when it is accidentally released by Chobin and causes Pokémon around Orre to lose their voice.
==In the spin-off games==
===Hey You, Pikachu!===
In Hey You, Pikachu!, the game centers around using a special device called a PokéHelper that translates certain human-language words into something wild Pikachu can understand. In this game's spiritual successor, Pokémon Channel, various Pokémon appear as hosts and stars of TV shows, with their speech subtitled into the local human language.
===Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia===
In Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, certain Pokémon are capable of using telepathy, such as .
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series===
In the Mystery Dungeon games, all Pokémon can talk. This includes the player, who was transformed into a Pokémon. However, since there are no human characters in the Mystery Dungeon games, it is entirely possible that these Pokémon are not, in fact, speaking human language, but rather their own Pokémon language, which the player can now understand as a result of becoming a Pokémon themselves.
===PokéPark series===
In the PokéPark games, all Pokémon can talk. However, like in the Mystery Dungeon games, there are no human characters in the game, suggesting that the Pokémon are simply speaking Pokémon language in between each other, which the player character is able to understand due to being a Pokémon as well. This is further supported by all the Pokémon having their voices from and their speech only appearing in text boxes.
===Detetive Pikachu series===
In , the player character, Tim Goodman, is partners with a talking . However, only the player seems to be able to hear Pikachu's talking voice. In addition, the game also features a , which is able to talk via telepathy. In the sequel game, Detective Pikachu Returns, Pokémon speech can also be understood via subtitles when heard from Pikachu's perspective. In addition, during the game's climax, Charles Merloch is able to speak when he fuses his mind with the body of a .
===Pokémon Masters EX===
In , 's briefly takes over 's body during the Winter Wishes story event to talk to Leon through him.
==In animation==
===Pokémon the Series===
====Understanding of human language====
Although The Poké Spokesman states that Pokémon cannot directly understand human speech, this is contradicted by many other episodes before and since in . Moreover, judging, for instance, from in Hatch Me If You Can, they are able to do this immediately after hatching, without even having to learn the skill.
The series generally does not focus on language problems, so as a result, there is some confusion about Pokémon language and the ability of Pokémon to understand humans. Although it is obvious that all Pokémon can understand each other, in Go West Young Meowth once mentions Meowth language, and Jessie in Who's Flying Now? mentions Chimecho language, so it is not clear whether there is a common Pokémon language, or every species has its own.
As far as human language is concerned, in the same episode was shown learning pronunciation, not the language itself, which implies that all Pokémon have innate knowledge of human language, so they can understand human speech, and only have to learn how to pronounce its sounds, or be able to establish telepathic contacts to speak. Despite this, Misty in Whichever Way the Wind Blows once asked to translate her words to other Pokémon, and May taught her the meaning of the word town in Grass Hysteria!. Therefore, this ability of Pokémon is not well-defined in Pokémon the Series canon.
====Talking Pokémon====
While every Pokémon in and related media can understand human speech, very few can talk, although many and Mythical Pokémon can. In most cases though, talking Pokémon speak through telepathy.
 is the most famous talking Pokémon, and the one that makes the most appearances. His clone in Mewtwo Strikes Back and Mewtwo Returns, however, cannot speak, the reason being Meowth wasn't born knowing how to speak human language; he only learned it through hard work.
Although Ash's Pikachu does not speak in the main series, he appeared to talk once in I Choose You!, when seemed to die from taking the attack from various Pokémon late in the movie.
Pokémon	Pokémon 	Method of communication 	Featured episode
 	 	Human speech 	Most episodes from Pokémon Emergency! to The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!
 	's and 's Pokémon 	Subtitles (the lines were read by the narrator in the Danish, French, , Polish, and Swedish dubs, and by a different voice-over for each Pokémon in the Latin American Spanish dub; no translations at all were provided in Czech and Slovakian dubs)	Island of the Giant Pokémon
 	 	Human speech 	The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
 	Santa Claus's 	Telepathy 	Holiday Hi-Jynx
 	 	Telepathy 	Mewtwo Strikes BackMewtwo ReturnsMewtwo Strikes Back—EvolutionGetting More Than You Battled For!
 	 	Telepathy 	The Power of One
 	 	Human speech 	The Power of One
 	(as an embodiment of Molly's wishes)	Human speech (the English dub added an echo filter to imply that Entei's capacity for speech was actually telepathy, while the Japanese version had it speaking normally) 	Spell of the Unown: Entei
 	, , and 	Flashback. Speech understood from the perspective of Simon. 	The Poké Spokesman
 	 	Spoke through an illusionary girl named Lokoko 	Just Waiting On a Friend
 	Ash's Larvitar 	Human speech (while in the Unown Dimension) 	Address Unown
 	 	Telepathy 	Jirachi: Wish Maker
 	 	Telepathy 	Do I Hear a Ralts?
 	 	Telepathy 	Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
 	 	Able to say a few words such as "happy" and "I love you" 	Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
 	 	Repeats human language 	Several episodes
 	 	Telepathy 	The Rise of Darkrai
 	 	Telepathy 	Giratina and the Sky Warrior
 	 	Human speech 	Arceus and the Jewel of Life
 	 	Telepathy 	Zoroark: Master of Illusions
 	 	Spoke through while possessing him with its mask 	A Night in the Nacrene City Museum!
 	 	Telepathy 	White—Victini and ZekromBlack—Victini and Reshiram
 	including 	Telepathy 	Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice
 	Genesect Army 	Telepathy 	Genesect and the Legend Awakened
 	 	Spoke by into a Nurse Joy 	The Island of Illusions!
 	Carbink servants (Merrick & Dace) 	Telepathy 	Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
 	Mirror World counterpart of 	Human speech 	The Cave of Mirrors!
 	 	Telepathy, human speech 	Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
 	 	Telepathy 	Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
 	 	Human speech during and 's dream by 	Dream a Little Dream from Me!
 	Cores Squishy and Z2 	Telepathy 	Throughout Pokémon the Series: XYZ
 	 	Human speech (through the Pokédex's functions) 	Throughout and
 	Naganadel 	Telepathy 	The Prism Between Light and Darkness!
 	 	Reverse human speech 	Living on the Cutting Edge!
 	Rotom Phones 	Human speech (through the smartphone's functions) 	Throughout
 	 	Telepathy 	Legends? Go! Friends? Go!This Could be the Start of Something Big!
 	 	Speech understood from the perspective of the Zarude and 	Secrets of the Jungle
 	Alternate World counterpart of 	Human speech 	The Gates of Warp!Showdown at the Gates of Warp!
===Pokémon Horizons: The Series===
Pokémon have only exhibited human speech under special circumstances in .
Pokémon	Pokémon 	Method of communication 	Featured episode
 	Rotom Phones 	Human speech (through the smartphone's functions) 	Throughout
 	Diana's 	Repeats human language 	The Future I Choose
 	Roy's Crocalor	Roy was able to talk in Crocalor's body when the Synchro Machine caused them to switch bodies	HZ069
==In the manga==
===Magical Pokémon Journey and Pokémon Chamo-Chamo ☆ Pretty ♪===
Some Pokémon, such as and , can speak human language, although most Pokémon language is translated for the reader's ease (indicated by a different font in the speech bubbles). They are easily understood by humans just the same.
===Pokémon Adventures===
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In ...But Fearow Itself!, when was accidentally fused with a , he was still able to talk and ask to aid him in reversing the transformation.
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In The Might of... Metapod?!, was able to use her powers to read the mind of Lance's Dragonite and hear its thoughts.
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In Red, Green, Blue and Mewtwo Too, revealed to Red that it had gained the ability to talk via telepathy after leaving Blaine in Heckled by Hitmontop, although it usually only lets its voice be heard by people whom it trusts.
In Distant Relation Deoxys, was revealed to be able to use its powers to make its words appear on electronic screens, such as those on Pokédexes.
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In Gotcha Where I Wantcha, Glalie, it was revealed that are also able to speak via telepathy.
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In The Shadow Triad, the and Keldeo were revealed to be able to speak telepathically, although it was later revealed that humans can only hear this speech under certain conditions, such as by being at the Abyssal Ruins.
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In Dream World, 's was able to speak telepathically while inside the Pokémon Dream World.
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In Quilladin Stands, Xerneas was revealed to be able to use telepathy to communicate with humans as well.
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In The Final Match and a Surprising Finale!, the that had brought with her to Alola was revealed to have entered her new Pokédex and become the . Through the Pokédex, Rotom had gained the ability to speak human language.
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In PASS38, was revealed to be able to possess people and talk through them, doing so with Peony.
===Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys===
In The Truth About The Mysterious Whirl Islands!!, and encountered a talking living at the Whirl Islands. In the same chapter, they also encountered , which could talk via telepathy.
===Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!===
Shu can understand his Pokémon's language by using a special headset device called an Income.
===Pokémon Pocket Monsters===
All the Pokémon in Pokémon Pocket Monsters can talk, except for .
===Pokémon Zensho===
In PZ04, encountered and a talking , who soon turned out to be Bill, who had accidentally gotten himself fused with a Nidoran♂ during an experiment. Afterwards, Satoshi helped Bill to become normal again.
In PZ07, Satoshi and Sabrina met a talking at the Silph Co. while rescuing the company from Team Rocket. After Satoshi had defeated Giovanni, Lapras started traveling with him.
===Pokémon Newspaper Strip===
In the Pokémon Newspaper Strip, several strips are centered around Pokémon talking to each other. However, humans only hear Pokémon repeating their names (such as "Pika Pikachu!") and can't understand their speech.
==In the novels==
===Pokémon Tales===
The Pokémon Tales series includes several books where Pokémon talk to each other.
==Trivia==
* The move , named Parrot Mimicry in Japanese, is based on ability of these birds to repeat human speech.
* In an interview with NintendoLifeNintendoLife InterviewJunichi Masuda: Well… Now I have to think of something that, you know, won’t be used by competitors! [laughs] But one thing that I wanted to put in that didn’t quite make it was a translating machine for Pokémon cries, to find out what they’re saying. So you have this machine, and when a Pokémon cries out something, text would appear telling you exactly what that Pokémon is saying.Hironobu Yoshida: Really? I never knew!Junichi Masuda: Yes, I really wanted to put that in, but then thinking about the amount of text that we would have to include, with now over 600 Pokémon, it would be a really big task. This could be something that might appear in future games, but it sadly didn’t make X and Y., Junichi Masuda mentions that a Pokémon cry translation machine was considered for . However, it was scrapped due to the amount of text that would be needed to support the over 600 species of Pokémon at the time.
*In Pokémon the Animation, when Meowth translates what Pikachu was saying, Jessie and James express surprise at his being able to do so, with his explaining he "practiced hard to do that", implying that each species of Pokémon has its own language, and that not all Pokémon understand each other.https://cindysuke.tumblr.com/post/34817930237/the-facts-about-pokemon-world-lol
==Related articles==
==References==
Category:Pokémon world
it:Pokémon parlanti