The series Wednesday, from Netflix, starring Jenna Ortega (You), became a global phenomenon and reignited interest in The Addams Family. One of the curiosities that most intrigues Brazilian fans is: why is the character’s original name Wednesday, and how did she become the Wandinha we know?
The answer to this question is directly linked to the character’s history, which has had various actresses like Christina Ricci and Lisa Loring, and the context of the translation for the Brazilian audience.
The Origin of the Name Wednesday Addams
The character’s original name, Wednesday Addams, was created by Charles Addams, the cartoonist who conceived the macabre family in the pages of The New Yorker magazine starting in 1938. For a long time, the characters had no names. The naming came in the 1960s, with the first live-action series of The Addams Family.
The name was inspired by an old nursery rhyme or popular poem from English folklore called Monday’s Child. This verse predicts a child’s personality based on the day of the week they were born. The complete poem is:
Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursday’s child has far to go,
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for its living,
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
As the verse referring to Wednesday says the child is “full of woe,” the word “woe” can be translated as sadness, anguish, or distress. This description, of course, fits perfectly with Wednesday’s morbid and sarcastic personality, who always demonstrates a certain “disgust” for normal life and others’ feelings.
Why Did the Translation of Wednesday Become Wandinha in Brazil?
If the name in English is Wednesday, why don’t we call her “Quarta-feira” in Brazil?
From Wednesday to Wandinha: The Localization Strategy
Despite the poetic reference, a literal translation to Portuguese wouldn’t make much sense. That’s why the translation to Wandinha is the result of a cultural localization strategy adopted in the 1960s when the first TV series was aired in the country. The goal was to adapt the names so the audience could identify more easily, since the reference to the Monday’s Child poem was practically unknown.
Audiovisual translator Felipe Bini and the dubbing translator for the Netflix series, Fabiana Poppius, explained in an interview with UOL that this “domesticating” approach is common in audiovisual works, especially for children’s audiences. The translation of proper names isn’t always literal, and the main criterion is to ensure the name sounds good and makes sense in the local culture.
Joonas Suotamo, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jenna Ortega, Isaac Ordonez and Luis Guzmán as the iconic Addams Family in the Netflix series Wednesday (Credits: Netflix)
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The Origin and Evolution of The Addams Family Names in Brazil
The localization strategy that resulted in the name Wandinha extended to all family members. Creator Charles Addams also had original ideas for the names, which were adapted over time.
The first dubbing of the 1960s series was done by the studio Dublasom Guanabara. It was there that the Brazilianized names emerged, like Covas, Tio Funéreo, and Lacraio. With the premiere of an animated series in 1973, some names were adapted again to Tio Chico, Tropeço, and Mãozinha. Finally, the success of the 90s films helped consolidate these versions in the popular imagination.
Check out the origin and evolution of each character’s name below:
Gomez and Morticia
Morticia’s name is an obvious pun on the English word mortician (funeral director). For the family patriarch, creator Charles Addams wanted the name “Repelli,” a play on “repellent,” but the idea was rejected by the producers of the 1964 series. The final choice of Gomez came from actor John Astin himself, looking for a name that sounded more like a proper name. In the first Brazilian dubbing, he was called Covas, a translation that aligned with the family’s morbid theme, while Morticia was called Mortiça.
Feioso (Pugsley)
Pugsley’s original name is actually a pun on the English word ugly, which explains the adaptation to Feioso (Ugly) in Brazil. Interestingly, for the first series, creator Charles Addams even proposed the name Pubert, but it was rejected by censors at the time for being a reference to puberty. The name, however, was used 30 years later for the family’s youngest brother in the 1993 film.
Tio Chico (Uncle Fester)
The name Uncle Fester also has a macabre meaning. The verb ‘fester’ in English means ‘to rot’ or ‘to suppurate,’ referring to a wound that worsens over time. In the original 60s dubbing, he was translated as Tio Funéreo (Funereal Uncle), a direct reference to the family’s somber tone. Over time, the name was modified to Tio Chico, which, despite its somber connotation, is a popular name that also refers to his appearance (his bald head, which resembles a bocce ball, popularly called ‘chico’).
Tropeço (Lurch)
The butler’s original name, Lurch, comes from an English verb meaning “to move unsteadily,” a perfect description of the character’s slow and clumsy walk. In the original 60s dubbing, he became Lacraio, a creative choice that referred to the “centipede,” a venomous animal. With the success of the 90s films, the name was changed to Tropeço (Stumble), which maintains the idea of a clumsy walk.
Mãozinha (Thing)
The translation of Mãozinha (Little Hand), whose original name is simply Thing, was fully adapted for the dubbing, since the original name referred only to an “object” or “thing.” In the first Brazilian dubbing, the literal translation was maintained, and the character was called “o Coisa” (the Thing). However, over time, this translation was considered uncharismatic. The version that became popular was Mãozinha, a creative adaptation that uses the diminutive ‘-zinha’ to give a more affectionate tone and, at the same time, perfectly describes the character’s form.
The decision to keep the name Wandinha in the Netflix series is also a tribute to this affective memory. Even when the 90s film with Christina Ricci used the original name, the character continued to be called Wandinha by the Brazilian public.
The Future of Wednesday: Season 2 and New Actors
The success of the TV series was so great that Season 2 of Wednesday has already premiered on Netflix.
The cast of the second season of Wednesday also includes big names like Steve Buscemi, Haley Joel Osment (from The Sixth Sense), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), and Lady Gaga. The new season brings more mysteries and a deeper exploration of characters like Xavier Thorpe. It’s the perfect pick to watch on vacation with the family.
In the end, it doesn’t matter if you know her as Wednesday or Wandinha, the character remains an icon. And in Brazil, the affectionate translation not only made sense but also created a connection that crosses generations and remains alive in pop culture.
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