l e c h o n k : Your new favorite Pokémon has just been unveiled
By William Yuk
Forget about unusually attractive professors and questionably shaped legendaries
In the days following the release of the second trailer for “Pokémon Scarlet” and “Pokémon Violet,” Lechonk has become an instant fan favorite, with netizens taking to social media to express their love and devotion to the new Pokémon.
One fan was spotted holding up a large sign depicting Lechonk at an All Elite Wrestling (AEW) match.
Described as a Pokémon that “may appear fat at first glance” but has a body that is “mostly muscle built by constantly walking around in search of food,” Lechonk’s origins have been hotly contested online.
Some have drawn parallels between the hog Pokémon and the pigs from an earlier installment of another flagship Nintendo franchise, 2002’s “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.”
Others have pointed out that Lechonk is a portmanteau of the words “lechón” and “chonk.” The latter is internet slang used to describe endearingly fat animals. The former could either be an homage to the purported Spanish influences of the game’s new region, with lechón being the Spanish term for piglet or a reference to a slow-roasted pork dish of the same name that is a staple in Filipino cuisine.
While there are disagreements on where the adorably rotund Pokémon came from, there is one thing fans have seemingly come to a consensus on: what Lechonk’s evolution should be named.
Gamers can catch, train and battle Lechonk to their heart’s content when “Pokémon Scarlet” and “Pokémon Violet” release on Nov. 18, 2022.
Feature image via Nintendo UK
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