"The Legend of Zelda" Enemies
Translation Comparison Table

The following table compares the enemy descriptions given in the manuals of the Japanese and English versions of "The Legend of Zelda." The Japanese text comes from the Famicom Disk Version of "The Hyrule Fantasy: Zelda no Densetsu." The manual for this game gives the names in Japanese (katakana) and in Roman characters. The first column gives the Japanese enemy name, in katakana and romaji, and the Romanized name. The second column gives the Japanese description. The third column is the translation of this description, done by Johan. The fourth column is the enemy name and description from the U.S. manual. The last column gives any notes.

Translation comparison done by Johan and David Butler for The Legends of Zelda.
Last Modified: 3/19/2003

Japanese Name
Japanese Description
Translation
English Name & Description
Notes
テクタイト
TEKUTAITO
TEKTITE
ピョンピョンとはねまわる。動きは大きいもの(赤)と小さいもの(青)がいる。攻撃力は弱い。 Hops and jumps around. Red ones move around a lot. Blue ones also exist. Both have weak attack strength. Tektite
These spidery things jump about all over the place. Red ones move about a lot and blue ones move only a little. Tektites have little fighting power.
 
オクタロック
OKUTAROKKU
OCTOROK
地上生活をするタコの一種。赤と青の2しゅがおり、 青のものは攻撃力がやや強い。 口から岩を吐く This kind of Octupus lives above ground. Red and Blue types exists. The attack strength of the blue ones is somewhat strong. They spit rocks from their mouths. Octorok
A type of octopus that lives above ground. There are two types, red and blue. Watch out for the blue ones. They're mean. They spit out rocks at Link.
 
リーバー
RI-BA-
LEEVER
地中に住み、近寄る生物のエネルギーを吸い取る。攻撃力がやや強い青色のものと、弱い赤色のものがいる。 Lives under the ground, and catches and absorbs the energy from living creatures approching them. Besides blue ones with strong attacking strength, weaker red ones also exist. Leever
They live in the ground and eat up the energy of creatures that approach them. Blue Leevers are a little strong, but the red ones don't have much attacking power.
 

ピーハット
PI-HATTO
PEAHAT

攻撃力は弱い。ふわふわと飛び回る花の化身で、止まっているときしか倒せない。 Has weak attacking strength. An incarnation of a flower that airily flies around. It can only be defeated when it stops flying. Peahat
Has little attacking power. This is the ghost of a flower that bounces and flutters around the place. Link can eliminate it only when it's standing still.
Compare "incarnation" to "ghost." This seems to be incarnaton in the Buddhist sense - the spirit enters another body after death, in a cycle of death and rebirth.
モリブリン
MORIBURIN
MOLBLIN
森に住むブルドッグのような顔の子鬼。ヤリを投げて攻撃してくる。オクタロックよりは、やや手強い。 A little devil with a face similar to a bulldog who lives in forests. They attack by throwing spears. Somewhat stronger than Octoroks. Molblin
A bulldog-like goblin who lives in the forest. He attacks by throwing spears. A little bit meaner than Octorok.
Note how the spelling is "Molblin" instead of the later "Moblin." Also, the Molblin is called a little "oni." The oni is a special kind of Japanese devil.
アモス
AMOSU
ARMOS
石像になった兵士。リンクが触れると動きだし攻撃してくる。攻撃力はやや強い程度。 A soldier turned into a stone statue. It will attack if Link touches or moves it. Has a somewhat strong degree of attacking stength. Armos
A soldier who has been turned into a stone statue. He moves and attacks if touched by Link. He has a fair amount of attacking power.
 
ギーニ
GI-NI
GHINI
墓場に住むおばけ。最初からいるものと、墓石にさわると出るものがいる。 攻撃力はアモスと同じくらい。 A ghost that lives in graveyards. Some exist from the beginning and others appears when gravestones are touched. Their attacking strength is about the same as the Armos. Ghini
The ghost who lives in the graveyard. There are two types. There are Ghinis who are there from the beginning of the game, and those who appear when Link touches the gravestones. Ghinis have about the same attacking force as Armos.
 
ライネル
RAINERU
LYNEL
デスマウンテンに近づくものを撃退する守り神。攻撃力はかなり強く、放つ剣は小さなシールドでは受け止められない。 A guardian deity that attacks anyone who approch Death Mountain. His attacking power is fairly stong, and small shields cannot stop the swords he shoots. Lynel
The guardian who attacks all those who come near Death Mountain. Watch out! He's pretty strong, and Link's little shield can't stop his sword.

Note how the Lynel is now a guardian deity. This same word is also applied to inanimate objects to indicate a "lucky charm."

Also, the Japanese warns against the swords that Lynel shoots, while the English just warns against his sword.

ゾーラ
ZO-RA
ZOLA
水中に住む半魚人で、水面に顔を出す。放つビームは、 小さなシールドで防げない。 This half-fish, half-human, lives under water. It sticks its head above the water and shoots beams that small shields cannot protect from. Zola
Half-fish, half-woman who lives in the water. When she sticks her head out of the water she lets out a ball that Link's little shield can't hold back.
Says nothing about Zoras being only females.

岩 (iwa)
ロック
ROKKU
ROCK

デスマウンテンから崩れ落ちてきて、リンクを襲う。破壊することはできない自然の障害だ。 These rocks crumble down Death Mountain and attack Link. This natural obstacle cannot be destroyed. Rock
These rocks crumble off Death Mountain and fall down to attack Link. He can't destroy these natural nuisances.
The name is given as a kanji ("iwa," which means rock), but above it, instead of the furigana reading, is written ROKKU in katakana. The English name ROCK is also given.
ゾルとゲル
ZORU to GERU
ZOL & GEL
迷宮内を歩き回るゼリー状のモンスター。ゾルを切ると2匹のゲルに分裂する。ゲルの攻撃力は弱く、ゾルは その2倍とやや強い程度。 A monster with a jelly-like form that walks around in labyrinths. When a Zol is cut, it is divided into two Gels. Those Gels have weak attacking strength. Of these two types, Zol has the highest level of attacking strength. Zol & Gel
Jelly-like monsters that walk about bouncing around in the labyrinths. When Link cuts Zol, it splits into two Gels. Gel has little attacking power, but Zol has twice the power of Gel.
 

ロープ
RO-PU
ROPE

迷宮内に住み着いた毒ヘビ。他の種に対する感覚が鋭く、見つけると急速に近づいてくる。 攻撃力は弱い。 A poisonous snake that has come to live in labyrinths. It has sharp senses of other matters, and approaches quickly after discovering those. Its attacking strength is weak. Rope
A poisonous snake that has made the labyrinths its home. It senses other creatures quickly and suddenly comes after them (and Link, for that matter!) once it has found them out. This one hasn't got a lot of attacking power.
 
バイアとキース
BAIA to KI-SU
VIRE & KEESE
バイアはキースたちをつかさどる悪魔。切ると2匹のキースになってしまう。 キースの攻撃力は弱い。 An evil spirit that controls the Keeses. If it gets cut, it turns into two Keeses. Keese's attacking strength is weak. Vire
Vire is a devil that controls the Keeses. When Link cuts it with his sword, it turns into two Keeses. Keeses have little attacking power, but Vire is a little stronger.

The Japanese word here can translate to devil, demon, or evil spirit.

Note that Japanese doesn't have the "v" sound, so it substutes the "b" sound.

スタルフォス
SUTARUFOSU
STALFOS
両手に剣を持ったガイコツだが、攻撃力は弱い。 Even though this skeleton is carrying swords in both hands, its attacking strength is weak. Stalfos
A skeleton that's got a sword in each hand. Little attacking power.
 
ウォールマスター
UO-RUMASUTA-
WALL MASTER
迷宮のカベから出現する巨大な手。捕まると迷宮の入り口まで連れ戻される。 A huge hand that appears from the wall of labyrinths. If caught by this hand, one will be returned to the entrance of the labyrinth. Wall Master
A monster hand that appears out of the labyrinth wall. If it catches Link, it takes him back to the entrance of the labyrinth.
 
ゴーリア
GO-RIA
GORIYA
地下に住む小鬼。ブーメランを使い、赤と青の種類がいる。 青いものはやや強く、注意。 A little devil that lives below ground. The two types, red and blue, use boomerangs. The blue ones are somewhat strong, so be careful. Goriya
A little devil that lives underground. He uses boomerangs. There are two of his type, blue ones and red ones. Watch out for the blue ones! They are strong.
 
ウィズロープ
UIZURO-BU
WIZZROBE
ワープ(移動術)を使い、あちこちに出現し、小さなシールドでは受け止められない呪文を放つ。かなり強い。 Uses warping (moving technique), and thus appears here and there, and shoots spells that a small shield cannot defend from. Rather powerful. Wizzrobe
The Master of Movement. He appears here and there letting out magic spells that Link's little shield can't hold back. He's pretty strong. Watch out!
In the Japanese he's not the "Master of Movement," he just uses a movement technique.
タートナック
TA-TONAKKU
TARTNUC
迷宮に住む騎士で、強い攻撃力を持ちシールドで前方からの攻撃をかわしてしまう。 A knight who lives in labyrinths. He has strong attacking power and his shield can handle strong attacks from the front. Darknut
The knight who lives in the labyrinths. He has lots of attacking power. He repels Link's attacks from the front with his shield.
Note the different names - "Tartnuc" and "Darknut." The name's ending - NAKKU - is the same as the Ironknuckle in AoL (AIANNAKKU), which may indicate some connection. I have no idea what the "tart" in "Tartknuckle" would be...
ポルスボイス
PORUSUBOISU
POLS VOICE
耳の大きなオバケ。大きな音に弱いという弱点を持つ。 A ghost with big ears. The weak point is loud noise. Pols Voice
A ghost with big ears and a weak point - he hates loud noise.
Note that it's Pols, not Pol's. I always thought that was odd.
ラネモーラ
RANEMO-RA
LANMOLA
巨大なムカデ。頭への攻撃は効果なし。動きがとても速い。 An enormous centipede. Attacks on his head have no effect. It moves very fast. Lanmola
A gigantic centipede. Attacking his head won't work. Boy! Does he move fast!
 

ライクライク
RAIKURAIKU
LIKE LIKE

筒状のモンスターだが、マジックシールドを好んで食べてしまう。 A cylindrical shaped monster that enjoys eating magic shields. Like Like
A tube-like monster that has a soft spot for magic shields - he eats them up.
 
ギブド
GIBUDO
GIBDO
ミイラ男。なかなかの怪力で、攻撃力も強い。 A mummy man with rather superhuman strength, and a powerful attack. Gibdo
The mummy man. He's got some strange powers, and some pretty powerful attacking force.
Compare "superhuman strength" with "strange powers."

モルドアーム
MORUDOA-MU
MOLDORM

迷宮に住む大ミミズ。攻撃するうちに短くなっていく。あまり強くない。 An earthworm that lives in labyrinths. It grows shorter when attacked. Not very strong. Moldorm
The huge worm living in the labyrinths. It grows smaller as Link attacks. Not so strong.
Compare "earthworm" to "worm."
ドドンゴ
DODONGO
DODONGO
大型のサイ。攻撃力はあまり持たないが、固い表皮で攻撃を跳ね返す。 A large rhinoceros. It has not much of a attacking strength, but its thick skin bounces off attacks. Dodongo
A giant rhinoceros. It hasn't got so much attacking power, but it bounces off attacks with its thick hide.
Interesting how he's described as a rhinoceros here, but a dinosaur in other games.
テスチタート
TESUCHITA-TO
TESTITART
4方向に手を持つ大型のパックンフラワー。手が減るごとに動きが速くなる。やや強い攻撃力を持つ。 A large flower with arms in four directions. When the arms decrease it begins to move faster. It has rather strong attacking power. Manhandla
A large man-eating flower with hands sticking out in all four directions. It moves faster as it looses it hands. It's pretty mean. So, watch out!
Note the different names - "Testitart" and "Manhandla."
アクオメンタス
AKUOMENTASU
AQUAMENTUS
一角獣と呼ばれるドラゴンの一種。攻撃力が強い上に、ビームを放ってくる強敵。 A unicorn that can be called a type of dragon. Not only strong attacking strength, this powerful enemy shoots beams. Aquamentus
A type of dragon that some call a unicorn. As well as having lots of attacking power, it's a fearful opponent. It emits mean beams.
Okay, is it a unicorn that some call a dragon, or is it a dragon that some call a unicorn? ^_^
パタラ
PATARA
PATRA
集団で行動し、2種類のフォーメーションで攻撃をしてくる。大小とも攻撃力が強い。 Patra moves in groups and attack in two kinds of formations. Both the large and the small formation have strong attacking strength. Patra
The Patra attack in groups, in two types of formations. Both formation groups are strong. So be on your toes!
 
デグドガ
DEGUDOGA
DIGDOGGER
大ウニラ。その巨大な体のため、衝撃波を受けると体がしぼんでしまう。ただし、その攻撃力は強い。 Big sea urchin. Although its body is huge, it shrivels up when attacked. However, it has strong attack power. Digdogger
Big sea urchins. In spite of their big bodies, they shrivel up when attacked. But watch out! They come on pretty strong.
 
ゴーマー
GO-MA-
GOHMA
迷宮に住む超大型のカニ。その硬い甲羅はあらゆる攻撃を跳ね返す。目が唯一の弱点をある武器で狙え。 An extra-large crab that lives in labyrinths. The hard shelf will repulse all attacks. It's eye is the only weak point so aim at it with a weapon! Gohma
The super-huge crab that lives in the labyrinths. Its hard shell will repulse any attack. Attack its weak point with a special weapon.
 
グリオーク
GURIO-KU
GLEEOK
巨大なドラゴンで、2〜4個の首を持ちビームを吐く。胴体より切り離された首は空中を飛び回る。 This huge dragon uses its two to four heads to shoot beams. Cut the heads off from the body and they will fly around in the air. Gleeok
A huge dragon that has 2 to 4 heads and spits out beams at Link. Heads that Link cuts off from its body fly around in the air.
 
ヘッド オブ グリオーク
HEDDO OBU GURIO-KU
HEAD OF GLEEOK
    Head of Gleeok (This one goes with the Gleeok description.)
バブル
BABURU
BUBBLE
ヒトダマで、とりつかれるとしばらくの間剣が抜けなくなる。 A disembodied soul (supernatural fiery ball). Touch it and you will be possessed and cannot draw your sword for a while. Bubble
The spirit of the dead. When it clings onto Link, he won't be able to unsheath his sword for while.
Interesting description in the Japanese.
トラップと石像
TORAPPU to seki zou
TRAP & seki zou
何者かによって迷宮のなかに仕掛けられたこの2つは、リンクが近つくと突然攻撃 をしてくる。十分注意しなくてはならない。 These two devices, which someone has placed in the labyrinths, attack Link once he gets near them. You have to show full attention to these things. Traps and Stone Statues
Somebody placed these in the labyrinth a long time ago. They suddenly attack Link when he approaches them. So you've really got to watch out!

The Japanese mentions them being placed in the labyrinth, but not a long time ago.

"Seki zou" means stone statue. This is the only name that isn't given in English as well.