I’m curious about the various names for the character known as the Adder in different languages. In English, he’s called Adder because he “can’t keep his snake in his pants.” However, in Polish and Russian, he’s referred to as Komar, which translates to mosquito. I’m not sure why that choice was made. In Spanish, he’s known as Semental, meaning Stud, which is pretty straightforward. I’m looking for insights into why the localizations differ so much and what names he’s been given in other languages. Thanks for any info!
3 Answers
In Polish, calling him Adder as Komar connects to the sound a mosquito makes “bzzzz,” which kind of drives home that ‘sting’ association. Plus, the verb “Bzykać” also refers to a more intimate activity, which might have influenced their choice for localization.
The term Komár in Czech could provide some insight. It means mosquito and also relates to the phrase “Komár rád píchá,” meaning “The mosquito likes to sting.” What’s interesting is that in Czech, “píchat” can colloquially mean something a bit more adult, adding another layer to the name.
In German, they named him “Buhler,” an old term for someone who’s trying to court others. It feels poetic and fitting for the character, even if it’s less crude than other translations like “Stecher,” which may have pushed the envelope too far for the vibe of the game.
I totally agree! I liked that choice; it matches the game’s theme without being overly explicit, which shows they really thought it through in localization.