<p>I believe it is intentional.<br>
Because there's no "Kiseijuu" word in Japanese.<br>
I mean the Japanese original title, "Kiseijuu," itself is a coined word; parasitized + beast.</p>

<p>Japanese people know well about the word "Kiseichu", that means parasite.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>And the below is a spoiler for this topic.</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> 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.
<br>
 One of the key person in this series says "Human-being is the "Kiseijuu (parasyte)" who destroy the Earth!"</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-02T10:47:04.010Z
2014-12-02T11:01:03.647Z
2014-12-02T11:01:03.647Z
user9440
<p>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.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-24T06:53:09.640Z
An interesting observation, but not that convincing. Can you improve your answer somehow by including stronger evidence for your claim? I mean this is too subtle; a series title like To Love-ru is a more conspicuous kind of a pun.
Gao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-24T13:50:43.720Z
@GaoWeiwei: I actually have the same guess as the author of this answer regarding the name. It is too much of a coincidence that for almost every battle between the parasites, they arm themselves with scythe like blade on top of their tentacles.
nhahtdh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-24T05:08:35.877Z
2014-11-24T05:08:35.877Z
絢瀬絵里
<p>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.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-14T00:02:58.077Z
2020-04-14T00:02:58.077Z
Nate James
<p>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.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-12T11:03:08.123Z
Can we see the source, please? What news site or webpage did you check and get that information from?
Gao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-02T00:34:35.927Z
2015-02-02T00:34:35.927Z
ZanathKariashi
<p>According to Wikipedia user <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AParasyte#Parasyte_vs_Parasite" rel="noreferrer">Doceirias</a> who translated the Del Rey version of the manga:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Essentially, the word kiseiju<sup>1</sup> is consistently translated as Parasyte, while the word kiseichu<sup>2</sup> 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.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As with writing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte#History" rel="noreferrer">byte</a> instead of bite, Parasyte is a deliberate respelling of parasite for distinction purposes.</p>

<hr>

<p><sup>1</sup> kiseijuu <code>寄生獣</code>: parasite beasts<br>
<sup>2</sup> kiseichuu <code>寄生虫</code>: parasite bugs</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-20T14:55:18.043Z
2015-02-12T10:58:55.390Z
2015-02-12T10:58:55.390Z
Gao
<p>It is my understanding that the word <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasite" rel="noreferrer">parasite</a> 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.<br>
However, this only seems to apply to the title, since the species is referred to as "parasites" (at least throughout the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasyte" rel="noreferrer">wikipedia article</a>) and Uda Mamoru calls his parasite as Parasite in episode 7:  </p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wMPm1.jpg" alt="Uda Mamoru says &quot;You can just call him Parasite&quot; pointing to his parasite"></p>

<p><strong>Is there a reason for this misspelling?<br>
Or is there maybe a difference between "parasyte" and "parasite"?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-20T11:48:56.240Z
I think it's a misspelling
Hakase
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-20T11:54:36.167Z
Maybe because it's cool. like using z's instead of s's
Toshinou Kyouko
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-24T09:51:20.920Z
No, I haven't read the manga. And actually, I won't unless it differs a lot from the anime.
JNat
<parasyte>
Why is Parasyte spelled with a y in the title?
# Why is Parasyte spelled with a y in the title?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-11-20
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 ](https://i.sstatic.net/wMPm1.jpg)

**Is there a reason for this misspelling?  
Or is there maybe a difference between "parasyte" and "parasite"?**
**Tags:** parasyte
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think it's a misspelling  
> **username_2**: Maybe because it's cool. like using z's instead of s's  
> **username_0**: No, I haven't read the manga. And actually, I won't unless it differs a lot from the anime.  
---
## 5 answers
### Answer by username_5 on 2014-11-20. Score: 13 | Accepted answer
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
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2014-12-02. Score: 5
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!"
---
### Answer by username_4 on 2014-11-24. Score: 3
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.
> **Comments:**
> **username_5** (2014-11-24): An interesting observation, but not that convincing. Can you improve your answer somehow by including stronger evidence for your claim? I mean this is too subtle; a series title like To Love-ru is a more conspicuous kind of a pun.  
> **username_6** (2014-11-24): @GaoWeiwei: I actually have the same guess as the author of this answer regarding the name. It is too much of a coincidence that for almost every battle between the parasites, they arm themselves with scythe like blade on top of their tentacles.  
---
### Answer by username_7 on 2020-04-14. Score: 1
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.
---
### Answer by username_8 on 2015-02-02. Score: -2
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.
> **Comments:**
> **username_5** (2015-02-12): Can we see the source, please? What news site or webpage did you check and get that information from?  
---
