How Do You Spell PAC-MAN?

Pronunciation: [pˈakmˈan] (IPA)

The word "pac-man" is a popular name for a video game character. It is spelled with the /pæk/ sound for "pac" and the /mæn/ sound for "man" in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The "a" in "pac" is pronounced as the short "a" sound, while the "a" in "man" is pronounced as the short "æ" sound. The name was originally derived from the game's description, which referred to the character's tendency to eat dots and power-ups.

PAC-MAN Meaning and Definition

  1. Pac-Man is a classic arcade video game that was released in 1980 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. It was developed by Namco and designed by Toru Iwatani. The game follows the adventures of a circular, yellow character named Pac-Man as he navigates through mazes, consuming dots or pellets, and avoiding ghosts.

    Pac-Man's objective is to clear each level by eating all the dots, while avoiding the ghosts, who are also constantly moving around the maze. The game is played from a top-down perspective, and the four ghosts - Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde - have different personalities and behaviors, adding to the overall challenge.

    In addition to dots, Pac-Man can also consume larger pellets, known as "power pellets," which temporarily render the ghosts vulnerable. During this period, Pac-Man can eat the ghosts, gaining additional points. However, this effect is temporary, and the ghosts eventually recover and resume their pursuit.

    Pac-Man is known for its intuitive gameplay, catchy music, and iconic characters. It has become one of the highest-grossing and most recognized video game franchises of all time, inspiring numerous sequels, spin-offs, merchandise, and even an animated television series.

    The term "Pac-Man" is often used to refer to both the character and the game itself, which has had a lasting impact on popular culture. It has become synonymous with the arcade gaming era and is widely regarded as a landmark in video game history.

Common Misspellings for PAC-MAN

Etymology of PAC-MAN

The word "Pac-Man" has a relatively straightforward etymology. It comes from combining two words: "paku" and "taberu" in Japanese.

"Paku" (パク) is an onomatopoeic word in Japanese that represents the sound of something being quickly eaten or gobbled up.

"Taberu" (食べる) is a verb in Japanese, meaning "to eat".

So, by combining these two words, the creators of Pac-Man, Toru Iwatani and his team at Namco, named the game after the character's main action, which is to eat or "gobble up".