Tamagotchi is a word coming from the Japanese 'tamago' for egg and 'chi' meaning friend. It is a name given to an electronic device created for entertainment. It was developed in the early 1990s in Japan by two people from Bandai and quickly became a popular toy throughout the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Called Tamagotchi Connection outside Japan. Keitai Kaitsuu Tamagotchi Plus (December 2004). Only released in Japan. Hanerutchi (2005). Only released in Japan, featuring characters from the TV show Haneru No Tobira (you knock on a jumping door). Keitai Kaitsuu Tamagotchi Plus Akai (July 2005). Only released in Japan. Tamagotchi Etymology edit A genericization of Tamagotchi, the name of a virtual pet series: the word is a Japanese blend of 卵 ( たまご, tamago, “ egg ” ) + ウオッチ ( uotchi, from English watch ).
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- (brand name, dated)Tamagotch
- (nonstandard)Tamagocchi
Etymology[edit]
A genericization of Tamagotchi, the name of a virtual pet series: the word is a Japaneseblend of 卵(たまご, tamago, “egg”) + ウオッチ(uotchi, from Englishwatch).
Pronunciation[edit]
- (UK)IPA(key): /ˌtaməˈɡɒtʃɪ/
- (US)IPA(key): /ˌtɑməˈɡoʊtʃi/, /ˌtɑməˈɡɑtʃi/
- Rhymes: -ɒtʃi
Noun[edit]
Tamagotchi (pluralTamagotchis)
- A toy consisting of a small electronic virtual pet, a cyberpet.
- For quotations of use of this term, see Citations:Tamagotchi.