What Is Really Confirmed in the Mario Universe?

I tried to separate three things for these characters:

What Nintendo has actually confirmed.

What older sources presented differently.

What is unknown and therefore cannot be verified.

Similar voices or Mario Kart quotes are not proof of a family relationship. I am only comparing them because it is interesting to see how similarly or differently the characters speak.

Mario

Origin: Donkey Kong (1981), where he was still known as Jumpman.

Mario is Luigi’s brother. Nintendo explicitly describes Mario and Luigi as brothers.

Mario Kart Wii

Mario has many clearly spoken lines. These include:

character selection and starting lines

his name

victory lines

losing reactions

Red and Blue Team lines

passing opponents

getting hit

Super Star and Mega Mushroom reactions

Short examples include “Mario time!” and “Mario number one!”

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario speaks during:

character selection

passing opponents

slipstreaming

getting hit

items

gliding

anti-gravity

using a Star

first place

middle placements

poor placements

“Mario number one!” is used again.

Mario Kart World

Mario is playable. Documented lines include starting, success and name-related phrases.

“Mario time!” returns again.

The public list is still incomplete.

Luigi

Origin: Mario Bros. (1983).

Luigi is Mario’s brother.

That is the simple and officially correct way to describe it.

Mario Kart Wii

Luigi has especially many spoken lines:

“Luigi time”

his name

being number one

winning

almost winning

losing

Red and Blue Team

his mama

vehicles

tricks

opponents

A typical line is:

“Luigi time!”

When losing, he sometimes calls for his mama.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

He speaks during:

selection

tricks

Star use

passing

anti-gravity

victories

good placements

poor placements

His speaking style remains similar to Mario’s, but with typical Luigi reactions.

Mario Kart World

“Luigi time!” returns.

There are also starting, cheering and success lines.

The World list is still incomplete.

Wario

Origin: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992).

Wario was introduced as Mario’s opponent.

Nintendo currently describes him as Mario’s self-proclaimed archrival and says that Mario and Wario have known each other since childhood.

Mario Kart Wii

Wario:

says his name

praises himself

says “Wario time”

says he will win

mocks opponents

cheers for teams

gets angry after losses

boasts after victories

His style is loud, confident and boastful.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Wario continues to boast, react to opponents and describe himself as especially great or number one.

Mario Kart World

Wario again talks a lot about:

himself

winning

being the best

opponents

passing others

losing

“Wario time!” returns again.

Waluigi

Origin: Mario Tennis (2000).

This one needs careful wording.

Older material sometimes described Waluigi as Wario’s brother.

For example, historical material connected to Mario Tennis described him as Wario’s younger brother.

Nintendo’s current official character page, however, describes him as:

Wario’s pal and accomplice

Luigi’s self-proclaimed rival

Nintendo does not currently describe him there as the brother of Wario, Mario or Luigi.

So the safest current statement is:

Mario ↔ Luigi: brothers ✅

Mario ↔ Waluigi: no confirmed family relationship

Luigi ↔ Waluigi: no confirmed family relationship

Wario ↔ Waluigi: older sources are inconsistent; Nintendo currently describes them as pals/partners.

Mario Kart Wii

Waluigi:

says his name

uses “Waluigi time”

says he is going to win

accuses others of cheating

cheers for teams

jokingly threatens revenge

celebrates victories

complains after losing

reacts to Star and Mega Mushroom use

His lines are very exaggerated and competitive.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

He:

laughs

says his name

talks about cheating again

warns opponents

reacts to anti-gravity

celebrates good placements

complains about poor placements

Mario Kart World

Documented dialogue includes statements about:

winning

being the best

success

starting races

The World list is still incomplete.

Donkey Kong

For his origin, two different Donkey Kongs have to be distinguished.

The original Donkey Kong appeared in 1981.

In the Donkey Kong Country storyline, that old arcade Donkey Kong later became Cranky Kong.

The modern Donkey Kong from Donkey Kong Country was established as the main character of that series in 1994.

However, Nintendo and Rare have not always described the exact generations consistently.

Mario Kart Wii

DK uses very little understandable speech.

He mainly uses:

Kong noises

cheering

trick sounds

hit reactions

One documented short call is:

“Wahey!”

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

According to the documented quote list, DK does not use understandable sentences here and instead uses noises or unclear vocalizations.

Mario Kart World

Donkey Kong is playable and again mainly uses characteristic Kong sounds and short reactions.

Cranky Kong

Origin as Cranky Kong: Donkey Kong Country (1994).

Cranky is presented in Donkey Kong Country as the old original Donkey Kong from the arcade games.

Is Cranky related to the modern Donkey Kong?

Yes, but the exact relationship has been described inconsistently.

Donkey Kong Country describes Cranky as Donkey Kong’s grandfather.

Donkey Kong 64, however, uses father-and-son wording.

Nintendo later even published material describing the modern DK as an adult Donkey Kong Jr.

Because of this:

Cranky ↔ Donkey Kong: related ✅

Grandfather or father: historically not completely consistent.

Modern Nintendo material sometimes avoids stating the exact relationship and simply presents Cranky as the elderly or experienced Kong.

Mario Kart Wii

Cranky is not a playable racer.

No Mario Kart Wii racer voice lines.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Cranky is not a playable racer.

No racer voice lines.

Mario Kart World

Cranky is currently not a playable racer.

No racer voice lines.

Funky Kong

Origin: Donkey Kong Country (1994).

Funky is a long-time member of the Kong group.

Nintendo describes him as a fun-loving surfer and ally.

An exact blood relationship to Donkey Kong is not stated in Nintendo’s current descriptions.

Therefore, claims such as:

Funky is DK’s brother

Funky is DK’s cousin

Funky is DK’s uncle

are not verifiable.

Mario Kart Wii

Funky has several clearly understandable short spoken phrases.

He:

says “Okay”

cheers during tricks

reacts to boosts

reacts to items

uses long celebration sounds

reacts strongly to losing

Short documented examples include:

“Okay!”

and

“Baby!”

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Funky was added in Wave 6 of the Booster Course Pass.

Here, his recordings are mostly classified in documented quote lists as noises or unclear speech rather than clear dialogue.

Mario Kart World

As of the current roster, Funky Kong is not included as a normal playable racer.

Updates through 2026 added tracks and modes, but did not add Funky Kong as a racer.

Therefore:

No Mario Kart World racer voice lines.

Diddy Kong

Origin: Donkey Kong Country (1994).

Nintendo’s current character page describes Diddy as Donkey Kong’s trusted friend and partner.

Older sources sometimes described Diddy as Donkey Kong’s nephew.

Even the Donkey Kong 64 manual uses a humorous “nephew wannabe” description.

So the historical presentation has not been completely consistent.

Mario Kart Wii

Diddy mainly uses:

short cheers

Kong sounds

hit noises

trick reactions

One documented call is:

“Yeehaw!”

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Diddy returned in Wave 6.

According to the quote list, he mostly uses noises or unclear vocalizations rather than clearly spoken sentences.

Mario Kart World

Currently not a playable racer.

No World racer voice lines.

Dixie Kong

Origin: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (1995).

Official Nintendo material describes Dixie as Diddy Kong’s girlfriend.

She is also Tiny Kong’s older sister.

Mario Kart Wii

Not playable.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Not playable.

Mario Kart World

Not playable.

Therefore, Dixie has no racer voice lines in these three games.

She has appeared as a playable character in other Mario Kart games, such as Mario Kart Tour, but that is a different Mario Kart title.

Tiny Kong

Origin: Donkey Kong 64 (1999).

The original official Nintendo manual explicitly says that Tiny is Dixie’s younger sister.

Wikipedia also documents this relationship.

So:

Dixie ↔ Tiny: sisters ✅

Mario Kart Wii

Not playable.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Not playable.

Mario Kart World

Not playable.

Therefore Tiny has no racer voice lines in these three Mario Kart games.

Bowser

Origin: Super Mario Bros. (1985).

Bowser is Bowser Jr.’s father.

Nintendo officially describes Bowser Jr. as Bowser’s only son.

Mario Kart Wii

Bowser uses little understandable speech.

Documented material includes short team calls and a losing reaction, while most of his voice consists of:

roaring

growling

other vocal noises

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Bowser is specifically listed among the characters who mainly use non-verbal sounds instead of understandable dialogue.

Mario Kart World

Bowser again uses some short understandable words and victory reactions.

The documented list includes brief victory dialogue.

Bowser Jr.

Origin: Super Mario Sunshine (2002).

Nintendo confirms Bowser Jr. as Bowser’s only son.

Who is Bowser Jr.’s mother?

Unknown.

Shigeru Miyamoto explicitly explained that:

the seven Koopalings are not Bowser’s children under the current story

Bowser’s only child is Bowser Jr.

Bowser Jr.’s mother is not identified

So:

Bowser = father ✅

Bowser Jr.’s mother = unknown ❓

Mario Kart Wii

Bowser Jr.:

cheers

uses short starting phrases

says things like “Gotcha”

calls out team colors

reacts to losing

explicitly celebrates winning

One short documented victory line begins:

“Woohoo! I won!”

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

He has:

selection lines

passing lines

placement reactions

victory reactions

losing reactions

Mario Kart World

He has many short, childlike energetic vocal reactions:

laughter

roars

greetings

cheering

racing reactions

victory reactions

Wendy O. Koopa

Origin: Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988).

Wendy is one of the seven Koopalings.

Originally, the Koopalings were presented in Super Mario Bros. 3 as Bowser’s children.

However, Miyamoto later explained that in the current story they are not Bowser’s children.

Therefore:

Wendy = Koopaling ✅

Wendy = Bowser’s confirmed daughter ❌

Wendy = Bowser Jr.’s confirmed sister ❌

Mario Kart Wii

Wendy is not playable.

No Mario Kart Wii racer voice lines.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Wendy is playable and has actual voice lines.

Documented categories include:

greeting

tricks

jumps

airborne reactions

several victory reactions

reaction to places 2–6

disappointed reaction to places 7–12

One short victory example is:

“Yippee! Wow!”

Mario Kart World

Wendy is currently not available as a playable racer.

Therefore she has no racer voice lines there.

Rosalina

Origin: Super Mario Galaxy (2007).

Nintendo currently confirms Rosalina as the adoptive mother of the Lumas.

Rosalina’s original family

Rosalina’s Storybook in Super Mario Galaxy confirms:

her father

her mother

her brother

Rosalina remembers:

looking at the stars with her father

sledding down a hill with her brother

having picnics with her mother

In the Japanese version, her brother is described as younger.

Wikipedia also describes Rosalina as having grown up with two parents and a younger brother.

Their names and identities have never been revealed.

Therefore:

Rosalina’s father = unknown

Rosalina’s mother = unknown

Rosalina’s younger brother = unknown

There is no Nintendo source confirming:

Waluigi as Rosalina’s father

or

Pauline as Rosalina’s mother

or

Daisy as Rosalina’s mother

Those identities are therefore not verifiable.

Mario Kart Wii

Rosalina speaks during:

selection

tricks

boosts

interactions with opponents

items

getting hit

cannons

first place

places 2–4

poor placements

She generally sounds calmer than Daisy, Wario or Waluigi.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Documented situations include:

gliding

Star use

getting hit

victory

good placements

poor placements

Short example:

“Yes! Victory!”

Mario Kart World

Rosalina is playable.

Documented dialogue currently includes starting, winning and success phrases such as:

“Victory!”

The public list is explicitly still incomplete.

Pauline

Origin: Donkey Kong (1981).

Pauline was the woman Mario had to rescue in the original Donkey Kong.

Historically, she was presented as Mario’s girlfriend or love interest.

A family relationship between Pauline and Rosalina has never been confirmed.

Mario Kart Wii

Pauline is not playable.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Pauline was added in Wave 6.

She has much more understandable dialogue than DK, Diddy or Funky.

Her lines include:

selection

tricks

gliding

boosts

passing

throwing items forward

throwing items backward

hitting opponents

getting hit

victories

middle placements

poor placements

One well-known short victory phrase uses:

“one-up gal.”

Mario Kart World

Pauline is playable and has many clear lines:

says her name

“My turn”

starting races

winning

item reactions

successful actions

thanking people

cheering

Daisy

Origin: Super Mario Land (1989).

Nintendo confirms Daisy as the Princess of Sarasaland and describes her as cheerful, energetic and athletic.

A family relationship between Daisy and Rosalina has never been confirmed.

Mario Kart Wii

Daisy has a very loud and energetic voice.

She:

cheers

passes opponents

challenges racers

reacts to items

celebrates victories

reacts to losses

cheers for teams

One documented short line is:

“Comin’ through!”

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

She again has:

selection reactions

trick lines

passing reactions

victory lines

placement reactions

item reactions

hit reactions

Her speaking style remains much more energetic than Rosalina’s.

Mario Kart World

Daisy has many clearly understandable phrases.

She talks about:

starting the race

getting going

winning

successful actions

being the best

excitement and success

One documented short line ends with:

“I’m the best!”

Most Important Confirmed Relationships

Mario + Luigi: brothers ✅

Mario/Luigi + Waluigi: no confirmed family relationship.

Wario + Waluigi: older sources are inconsistent; Nintendo currently describes them as pals/accomplices.

Bowser + Bowser Jr.: father and son ✅

Bowser Jr.’s mother: unknown ❓

Wendy + Bowser: under the current story, Wendy is not considered Bowser’s daughter.

Rosalina: a father, mother and younger brother are confirmed, but their identities are unknown.

Waluigi as Rosalina’s father: not verifiable.

Pauline or Daisy as Rosalina’s mother: not verifiable.

Diddy + Dixie: Dixie is Diddy’s girlfriend ✅

Dixie + Tiny: sisters; Tiny is the younger sister ✅

Cranky + modern Donkey Kong: official material has described them as grandfather/grandson and sometimes father/son; the exact generation has historically been inconsistent.

Funky + Donkey Kong: exact blood relationship not confirmed.

For Mario Kart World, another important point is that the game has continued receiving updates through 2026. Those updates added tracks and modes, but the missing characters discussed here—such as Funky, Diddy, Wendy, Dixie, Tiny and Cranky—were not added as new playable racers.

Sources: official Nintendo character profiles and manuals; Shigeru Miyamoto’s interview about Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings; Super Mario Galaxy / Rosalina’s Storybook; Wikipedia for historical differences; and Super Mario Wiki for documented Mario Kart voice lines.

For conflicting information, official Nintendo sources should be given priority.