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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"?**


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2014-11-20T11:42:55.703
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question
parasyte
Why is Parasyte spelled with a y in the title?


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


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Parasyte is more like parasite-scythe. Scythe is the weapon of the parasites
in this anime/manga, so it's that kind of a pun. Parasyte is because the
weapon of the parasites are scythes.


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2014-11-24T05:08:35.877
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I believe it is intentional.  
Because there's no "Kiseijuu" word in Japanese.  
I mean the Japanese original title, "Kiseijuu," itself is a coined word;
parasitized + beast.

Japanese people know well about the word "Kiseichu", that means parasite.

Here, "Juu" means animals especially something dangerous or beasts, and "Chu"
is bugs. I think this is why "Parasite" won't suit for English title.

And the below is a spoiler for this topic.

> In this series, the word "Kiseijuu" will be used or appeared only once. And
> that is not refer the parasitic monsters like Migi, Tamiya, Shimada, etc.  
>  One of the key person in this series says "Human-being is the "Kiseijuu
> (parasyte)" who destroy the Earth!"


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Last i checked it was extra little bit of protection against copy-right claims
as part of the localization, that turned out to not be required, but was kept
anyway.


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2015-02-02T00:34:35.927
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Actually the likely reason it's titled as Parasyte with a Y instead of an I is
likely a play on words having to do with a physiological reference to the
blood brain barrier (which protects the brain against toxins/pathogens). There
are cells called "pericytes" that regulate blood flow through capillaries. So
the name Parasyte is likely a clever combination (and way to avoid copyright
issues) of the parasite taking over the host in the anime and pericytes that
help with brain function. I should note I'm a med student so this came to me
while I was doing an assignment lol I'm sure other people have thought of this
too though.


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