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Incantation

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At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

"And saying the magic words properly is very important, too — never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."
— Professor Flitwick on the importance of enunciating incantations correctly[src]

An incantation was the magic word or words spoken to cast a spell.[1]

Description[]

Incantation was one of four main factors that were normally required to cast a spell, along with wand movement, concentration, and intention. However, a particularly skilled witch or wizard could cast spells silently, though the incantation still needed to be in one's mind while casting.

Most known incantations derived from the Latin language but there were a few which were English. Foreign wizards might have incantations that were quite different from the ones used by English people, as even Madam Villanelle, a skilled linguist, couldn't comprehend the incantations used by the Japanese white-robed wizard when duelling, though it isn't known whether the incantations were in a different language or were the same ones with a heavy accent.

Spells cast using an incorrect incantation might fail in various ways, such as setting things on fire, an undesired outcome, or absolutely nothing at all. In certain cases, the side effects could be quite severe, and Professor Filius Flitwick urged his first-year Charms students to remember the example of Wizard Baruffio, who due to his speech impediment, had once said 's' instead of 'f' and conjured a buffalo on top of his chest.[1]

An incantation would not work without conscious effort, intent or magical prowess of the caster. For example, Bartemius Crouch Jnr, in disguise as Alastor Moody stated regarding the Killing Curse (incantation - Avada Kedavra) to his fourth-year students that they could "get your wands out and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed."[2] Similarly, a Muggle or Squib would never be able to perform magic, no matter how many incantations they might shout.[3]

There was also a wizarding record label named "Incantation Records".[4]

History[]

When introducing his class to his first-year students in 1991, Severus Snape stated that there would be "no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations" in the class.[5] This however, was likely something of an exaggeration, as it was necessary to channel magic at some point in order to make a potion,[6] and in the case of more complicated potions, the use of a spell might be needed for the identification of ingredients, among other reasons.[7]

Known incantations[]

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 10 (Hallowe'en)
  2. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 14 (The Unforgivable Curses)
  3. ↑ The Tales of Beedle the Bard - Albus Dumbledore's commentary for "Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump"
  4. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
  5. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 8 (The Potions Master)
  6. ↑ JK on the prospect of Muggle potioneers
  7. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 18 (Birthday Surprises)
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