Twerp

Twerp is an insult commonly used by Team Rocket, usually towards people they do not like. Ash is usually the twerp, (Japanese: じゃりボーイ jari-boy) according to Jessie, James and Meowth. Collectively, Ash and his friends are the twerps (Japanese: じゃりの子 jari-kids; or more roughly, the brats). The term can be extended to virtually anyone who associates with Ash and isn't on Team Rocket's side. They rarely refer to the twerps by their actual names. In fact, almost always, the only times when Team Rocket calls Ash and his friends by their real names is when they are in disguises or when Ash and Team Rocket are forced to work together. This seems to be more out of disrespect than because they don't remember the names of the twerps.

The "twerpettes"

When they want to refer to Ash individually, they will call him just "the twerp". However, if they want to refer to his friends individually, they will use a variation on this. For example, their nickname for Brock is "the big twerp" or "the tall twerp". Also, when referring to Misty, May, Dawn or Lyra they will sometimes refer to them as twerpette (Japanese: じゃりガール jari-girl), the feminine version of "twerp" (though it should be noted that the term "twerpette" was not mentioned in the dub until the Advanced Generation series). They also occasionally called Max the "Mini-Twerp". When May and Dawn first joined Ash on his journey, they were referred to as "the new twerp". When May returned in the Diamond & Pearl series she was referred to as the "Hoenn region twerpette". May was also referred to as "twerp with the bandanna" in May's Egg-Cellent Adventure.

"The rude twerp" & "fining twerp"

Paul, due to his rude and uncaring personality, is called "the rude twerp", though they have called him "the tall twerp" a couple times, possibly a reference to the fact that all of Ash's rivals are taller than him. In Strategy with a Smile! Meowth refers to Zoey as "the red-haired twerp". Barry is known as the "fining twerp" because he usually mentions to fine a person. Kenny is called "the contest twerp" in Stopped in the Name of Love! for being one of Dawn's rivals, In Yes in Dee Dee, it's Dawn Ursula is referred to as the "Twirly-haired Twerpette". In Keeping In Top Forme! Team Rocket calls Marley the "Sleepy Twerpette".

Additionally, when referring to themselves as Team Rocket, they will sometimes refer to the twerps as Team Twerp in comparison. Fans sometimes use the term as "anyone who isn't a member of Team Rocket". But in the anime, Ash is the one true twerp, and all other twerps exist in relation to him. Attila and Hun refer to Jimmy and Marina as twerps (Japanese: hero-boy). Apparently, it seems that any and all young enemies of Team Rocket are referred to as twerps.

In other languages

• Twerp

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		小鬼頭
Dutch		Ettertje
Finnish		Pälli
European French		Morveux
Greek		Φλούφλης
Hindi		Shaytaan / Bada Shaytaan / Chotta Shaytaan
Hungarian		Törpe*
Italian		Moccioso
Polish		Głąb
Brazilian Portuguese		Pirralho
Spanish	Latin America	Bobo / Torpe*
	Spain	Mocoso

• Twerps

Language		Title
Dutch		Ettertjes
Finnish		Pällit
European French		Morveux
Greek		Φλούφληδες
Hindi		Shaytaanon Ki Tolee
Hungarian		Törpék*
Italian		Mocciosi
Polish		Głąby
Brazilian Portuguese		Pirralhos
Spanish	Latin America	Bobos / Torpes*
	Spain	Mocosos

• Twerpette

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		小丫頭
Dutch		Ettertje
Finnish		Pällitär
European French		Morveuse
Hindi		Shaytaan Ladki
Italian		Mocciosa / Mocciosetta
Brazilian Portuguese		Pirralha
Spanish	Latin America	Boba / Torpe / Torpina*
	Spain	Mocosa / Mocosilla