Why is Parasyte spelled with a y in the title?


It is my understanding that the word [parasite](http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/parasite) is spelled with an i and not a y. However,
the title of the anime and manga, when translated into English, uses a y in
the spelling.  
However, this only seems to apply to the title, since the species is referred
to as "parasites" (at least throughout the [wikipedia
article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasyte)) and Uda Mamoru calls his
parasite as Parasite in episode 7:

![Uda Mamoru says "You can just call him Parasite" pointing to his
parasite](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wMPm1.jpg)

**Is there a reason for this misspelling?  
Or is there maybe a difference between "parasyte" and "parasite"?**




According to Wikipedia user
[Doceirias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AParasyte#Parasyte_vs_Parasite)
who translated the Del Rey version of the manga:

> Essentially, the word kiseiju1 is consistently translated as Parasyte, while
> the word kiseichu2 is translated literally as parasite. The creatures
> themselves are referred to either as kiseichu or parasaito. The word kiseiju
> only appears one time (if memory serves) and is used to refer to human
> beings. I decided the distinction was an important one, and that the word
> Parasyte actually referred to mankind.

As with writing [byte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte#History) instead of
bite, Parasyte is a deliberate respelling of parasite for distinction
purposes.

* * *

1 kiseijuu `寄生獣`: parasite beasts  
2 kiseichuu `寄生虫`: parasite bugs




According to Wikipedia user
[Doceirias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AParasyte#Parasyte_vs_Parasite)
who translated the Del Rey version of the manga:

> Essentially, the word kiseiju1 is consistently translated as Parasyte, while
> the word kiseichu2 is translated literally as parasite. The creatures
> themselves are referred to either as kiseichu or parasaito. The word kiseiju
> only appears one time (if memory serves) and is used to refer to human
> beings. I decided the distinction was an important one, and that the word
> Parasyte actually referred to mankind.

As with writing [byte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte#History) instead of
bite, Parasyte is a deliberate respelling of parasite for distinction
purposes.

* * *

1 kiseijuu `寄生獣`: parasite beasts  
2 kiseichuu `寄生虫`: parasite bugs

