Hocus pocus, abracadabra, alakazam! These are the words we invoke when magic is at work—even if it might just be a card trick at home. While a few of these words and phrases have wholly crossed over into entertainment magic or originated there from the start (e.g., presto change-o), some of these words are rooted in older commands that called upon higher powers to influence the material world.
Whether called hexes, hymns, prayers, or simply spells, the words we invoke to communicate with a greater power to work our will all require an intangible force that can be universally described as magic. Take a look and decide for yourself if magic is real or if it’s just a bunch of hocus-pocus.
🪄 A magical quiz
If you’re a real “wiz” at card tricks or have a deeper fascination with charms and spells, you might already know the words on this list. When you’re ready, you can demonstrate your knowledge of magic words by taking this short quiz!
abracadabra
Perhaps one of the oldest and most recognized magical phrases, abracadabra has been around since the second century BCE and has famously appeared in the Harry Potter series. Its origins are contested as scholars posit that abracadabra emerged from Late Latin or Late Greek, reflecting the recitation of the initial letters of the alphabet (abecedary); others hypothesize that it could related to the Hebrew Ha brakha dabra, which translates as, “The blessing has spoken.” We do understand it as a word generally meant to invoke magical power. Abracadabra is classified as a reductive spell, which means it would have been written out as a complete word on the first line, then with one letter missing on the next, then another letter removed on the following line, and so forth. The idea behind reductive spells is that by making the word shorter so would a pain or illness gradually diminish.
Recorded in English in the late 1600s, abracadabra is used in incantations, particularly as a magical means of warding off misfortune, harm, or illness, and for some, is used as a nonsense word, implying gibberish in place of supposedly magical words.
alakazam
Often used as the finale word in the presentation of a grand stage illusion, alakazam is intoned as a powerful command.
While the origins of the word are unknown, according to Magic Words: A Dictionary, alakazam may have ties to a similar-sounding Arabic phrase, Al Qasam, which means “oath.” Therefore, a conjuror invoking alakazam may be calling back to a promise made by a superior being to help complete the miraculous feat they are presenting.
One of the earliest printings of alakazam in an English text is the poem “Among the White Tents,” first published in the Chicago Herald Tribune in 1888. While the poem uses alakazam in the context of entertainment and as an excited expression (“We’re goin’ to de cirkis! / Alakazam!”) there is oddly no connection to magic.
hocus-pocus
Immortalized in a ’90s cult classic family film, hocus pocus may be both invoked as an incantation and might also be used to refer to an act of trickery. For instance, one who is dismissive of fortunetelling might call the act of reading tarot cards “a bunch of hocus pocus.”
First recorded in the 1660s, hocus pocus is likely a corruption of the Latin phrase used in Catholic mass, Hoc est corpus meum (“here is my body”).
Discover more about hocus-pocus and other bewitching words here.
voilà
Maybe you’ve seen a magician conclude an amazing feat with this little phrase. She’ll flourish a sheet over a table and voilà, where there was no one a second ago, her whole assistant will appear!
First recorded in English between 1825–35, voilà is used as an expression of success or satisfaction, typically to give the impression that the achievement happened quickly or easily. Combined from the French words voi (“see”) and là (“there”), voilà is used to direct attention during performance magic.
open sesame
First recorded in English in the late 1700s, open sesame comes from Antoine Galland’s translation of One Thousand and One Nights. These are the magic words Ali Baba speaks to open the door of the den of the 40 thieves.
Perhaps one of the greatest magical commands to survive from folklore, open sesame today may be used as a noun to refer to a very successful means of achieving a result. For instance, you might say an MBA is the open sesame to landing a competitive job in finance.
sim sala bim
These magic words were made popular by the famous professional magician Harry August Jansen (1883–1955), also known as The Great Jansen or Dante, who used sim sala bim as the name of his touring magic show. Jansen was born in Denmark and immigrated to Minnesota with his family at age 6. Jansen used sim sala bim at the end in his show, saying the words meant, “A thousand thanks.” (They are actually nonsense syllables from a Danish nursery rhyme.) He would tell the crowd that the larger the applause, the bigger the bow, and the more thanks that the sim sala bim symbolized.
mojo
While mojo can apply to the magic influence of a charm or amulet (usually positive), the term can also refer to the influence or charm an individual can have on the people around them. A popular Muddy Waters song, “Got My Mojo Workin’,” alludes to the degree to which the singer is able to charm the women he encounters. Mojo is less of a spell and more specifically an aura of power. An Americanism first recorded between 1925–30, it is believed to draw from the West African Gullah word moco, which means, “witchcraft.” It is probably connected to Fulani moco’o, or “medicine man.”
calamaris
Similar to abracadabra in popularity and structure, calamaris is the word that Scandinavians would invoke to heal a fever. Also like abracadabra, this word was a reductive spell, meaning the full word would be written down on one line, then each successive line would have one letter removed.
miertr
In ye olden times, having a decent hunt to provide for one’s family was critical. The incantation of miertr was spoken aloud as one walked backward and then left the house. After reaching the forest to hunt, the spellcaster was advised to take three clumps of dirt from beneath the left foot and throw them overhead without looking. This will allow an individual to advance without making any noise and capture birds and animals. Definitely a process, but hopefully it led to some successful hunting.
micrato, raepy sathonich
One of the most iconic scenes in the Bible’s Old Testament is Exodus 7:8-13, which tells of Moses and his brother Aaron as they go before Pharaoh and are challenged to perform a miracle as a sign of their god. When Aaron throws down his staff, it transforms into a snake that consumes the snakes conjured by Pharaoh’s own advisors and sorcerers. According to the Semiphoras and Schemhamphorash, an occult text published in German by Andreas Luppius in 1686, micrato, raepy sathonich were the opening words Moses spoke before changing his staff into a serpent.
daimon
A variant of the word daemon, daimon [ dahy-mohn ] appears in some Greek charms and holds the meaning of a “god, deity, soul of a dead person, or genie.” In this context, it does not necessarily correspond with the Christian interpretation of a demon—it is more akin to a spirit. This word might be used in a spell to summon a daimon attendant, who would then assist the conjurer in executing a specific task. Though new practitioners should be forewarned, summoning daimons are for more experienced magic practitioners and should always be handled with care. Daimon comes from Middle English and can ultimately be traced to the Greek daimónion, meaning “thing of divine nature.”
Divine the meanings behind familiar potion ingredients with the help of this explanation.
INRI
Those who can recall their days in Catholic school know INRI are the initials typically depicted on the crucifix and represent Jesus’ title (Iēsūs Nazarēnus, Rēx Iūdaeōrum). But long ago, INRI was also written on amulets and paper to offer cures to afflictions. For instance, to stop a fever, a person might eat a piece of paper with the initials written on it, or, to stop blood loss, INRI would be written in blood on a piece of paper that was then pressed to the forehead. It’s even been stamped on stable doors to ward off the evil eye.
grimoire
We’ve got two more interesting terms for good measure. Unlike the others on this list, a grimoire is not a magical spell. Described as a “textbook of sorcery and magic,” a grimoire [ greem-wahr ] is a must-have for any would-be spellcaster. First recorded in the 1800s, this word likely arose from the French grammaire (“grammar”). Essentially, this origin word refers to a textbook and/or a set of rules to be applied to the text. For a book that has the potential to summon other beings (for better or worse) and carry out supernatural feats, any student of that book had best be willing to follow those rules to the letter!
caracteres
The unique word caracteres refers to symbols written on bits of parchment or amulets. They were used as a way of encoding powerful spells to keep them from being repeated by someone who may not be aware of their potency or seek to abuse their power. Because of this general barrier to entry, caracteres also demanded the potential conjurors devote time to studying and learning how to correctly interpret the encrypted incantations.
Here is our list of magic words to help you with your writing.
Using magic words is essential to convey enchanting possibilities and create an otherworldly experience through writing. Meanwhile, magic words connected to childcare and relationships aid in proper psychological development and stronger bonds. Read on to learn how to apply these words to set the appropriate writing tone.
Contents
- What Are Magic Words?
- Magic Words: Types of Magic
- Magic Words: Process of Magic
- Magic Words Used by Magicians
- Magic Words From Harry Potter
- Magic Words to Express Politeness
- Magic Words to Express Admiration
- Author
What Are Magic Words?
Magic words are often for rituals or incantations that have something to do with the supernatural. Through many literary works, these became drivel phrases uttered while performing tricks and illusions to keep the audience’s attention. Fantasy writers also use these words to attract and relay to their audience that something mystical is about to happen.
On the other hand, a different set of “magic words” exist outside any magical setting. In family service, magic words are called “golden words,” which refer to critical words guardians need to teach children to instill good behavior and politeness. For personal relations, partners use these words to strengthen their connections.
Below are the words related to magic and positive perception for different intents:
| Abjuration | Feel | Respect |
| Abracadabra | Forgive | Riddikulus |
| Accio | Grimoire | Shazam |
| Actually | Happy | Sectumsempra |
| Alakazam | Help | Sim Sala Bim |
| Alchemy | Hexed | Sleight of Hand |
| Alohomora | Hocus-pocus | Spell |
| Appreciate | Hoodoo | Sorcery |
| Avada Kedavra | Illusion | Sortilege |
| Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo | Incantation | Sorry |
| Bewitch | Jinx | Support |
| Black Magic | Love | Ta-da |
| Chanting | Lucky | Thank You |
| Charm | Lumos | Theurgy |
| Confundo | May I | Together |
| Conjured | Malediction | Transmutation |
| Cordially | Miss | Trick |
| Crucio | Mojo | Understand |
| Daemon | Necromancy | Voila |
| Devilry | Obliviate | Voodoo |
| Divination | Open Sesame | We |
| Enchantment | Pardon Me | Wingardium Leviosa |
| Excuse Me | Petrificus Totalus | Witchery |
| Evocation | Please | Witchcraft |
| Expecto Patronum | Presto Chango | Wizardry |
| Expelliarmus | Reparo | You’re Welcome |
Because the school of magic has different kinds, varying words are used to define each type. Use these or their original terms to pique readers’ interest in magic.
- Abjuration
Carla hopes to learn the abjuration incantation in time to protect her family.
- Black Magic
Be careful around her because she knows how to use black magic.
- Charm
Dani’s mom bought her a good luck charm.
- Divination
The fortune-teller uses divination to predict Migo’s future.
- Enchantment
She wants to use an enchantment spell to make him fall in love with her.
- Evocation
The evocation of the demon is something you should never try.
- Hexed
Because she’s constantly dealing with misfortunes, many believe she’s been hexed since birth.
- Hoodoo
He’s always hard to wake up in the mornings as if under some hoodoo.
- Illusion
The king is afraid that the country’s sudden prosperity is merely an illusion.
- Jinx
The coach is afraid of his overly confident players, so he tells them not to jinx their next games by being too laid back.
- Necromancy
You must avoid that man at all costs, for he performs death magic called necromancy.
- Sorcery
Harry Potter learned how to win the battle of the wickedness sorcery in Hogwarts.
- Sortilege
We should ask the witch to perform sortilege first to ensure what we should do next.
- Transmutation
The transmutation magic made him the best warrior to walk the Earth.
- Trick
His coin trick makes the kids stare in awe and wonder.
- Voodoo
Did you know that Marie Laveau is the voodoo queen of New Orleans?
- Witchery
Her parents worry that she may be practicing witchery.
- Witchcraft
The North tribe is known for their skills in witchcraft and magic.
You might also be interested in these essays about books.
Magic Words: Process of Magic
Before magic can be performed, characters must learn how to use it correctly. Use the words below to convey these actions effectively:
- Alchemy
Her father desperately believes alchemy will help him find the cure to his daughter’s illness.
- Bewitch
The siren’s song will bewitch you into an unwavering haze, seducing you to come closer to the waters to drown yourself unknowingly.
- Chanting
The boyband’s fans start chanting their names to call them back on stage.
- Conjured
The man has successfully conjured a demon through a grave sacrifice.
- Devilry
Seeing her smile makes me sure she’s thinking about doing another devilry.
- Incantation
The healer recites an incantation to cure the sick.
- Malediction
James looks into the eyes of his bullies, mutters a malediction, and leaves with a smirk.
- Sleight of Hand
The magician has a fantastic sleight of hand that you won’t be able to catch how he moves things around through sleeves.
- Spell
Her calmness is so uncanny that anyone who knows her will think she’s under some spell.
- Theurgy
The general public believes she’ll be a productive politician because she can talk to the deities through theurgy.
- Wizardry
My roommate used his electronic wizardry to fix my computer in just a few minutes.
Magic Words Used by Magicians
The following list contains words often voiced by magicians, witches, fairies, and other relevant creatures to accompany their magic spells or performances. Writers employ these words to demonstrate entertaining magical executions.
- Abracadabra
The rabbit disappeared after the magician shouted, “Abracadabra!”
- Alakazam
My mom is like a sorceress – when we can’t find anything in the house, all we have to do is ask her and alakazam! She knows exactly where they are.
- Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
I hope finding true love is as easy as bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!
- Daemon
I firmly believe that my daemon is always guiding and protecting me.
- Grimoire
Even if you have the grimoire, it’s useless if you don’t know how to use it.
- Hocus-pocus
I don’t believe in tarot cards because they’re just a bunch of hocus-pocus.
- Mojo
If his mojo works well, he will surely win this election.
- Open Sesame
Let’s see what’s inside the box! Open sesame!
- Presto Chango
All I have to say is “presto chango,” and this handkerchief will turn into a stick.
- Ta-da
We don’t have a TV, but press that button and ta-da! You can use the wall to watch movies!
- Shazam
Mix all the fruits and other ingredients and shazam – a sweet fruit salad!
- Sim Sala Bim
She said she didn’t know what to say when performing magic on stage. So I told her to speak random words like the turban guy’s “sim sala bim” that aired years ago.
- Voila
Magicians find it easier to say “wallah” after every trick than “voila.”
Magic Words From Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is enjoys astounding success today and she is one of the best British authors of all time, despite some recent controversies on Twitter.
The book series has sold over 120 million copies since its 1997 release, and the movie franchise is even more popular. Another undeniable proof of its impact is its vast fanbase that made the spells from the book easily recognizable.
Its influence trickled down to the general public and even some literary works. Here are some of them:
- Accio
How I wish when I say “accio,” the remote control would move closer to me.
- Alohomora
I don’t think it’ll be safe to use the alohomora spell unless it’s for emergencies.
- Avada Kedavra
Be thankful that I can’t use Avada kedavra, or you will regret it.
- Confundo
Hermione used confundo on Cormac Mclaggen to confuse him and ensure Ron retains his spot in Gryffindor.
- Crucio
Crucio is a perfect punishment for people who commit unspeakable crimes.
- Expecto Patronum
Say “expecto patronum,” and summon Patronus to chase the dementors away.
- Expelliarmus
Why did Harry always use expelliarmus as a defense incantation?
- Lumos
If Harry’s wand lights up when he says “lumos,” my phone lights up when I say, “Hey, Siri.”
- Obliviate
If only I could use obliviate and erase all my memories with you.
- Petrificus Totalus
Don’t challenge me. One petrificus totalus, and you’ll be paralyzed.
- Sectumsempra
A dark spell that will leave cuts that will never heal, that’s sectumsempra.
- Wingardium Leviosa
Books are flying all around the library. Someone’s pranking the librarian with wingardium leviosa.
- Reparo
Oh, I wish I could use reparo right now so mom won’t scold me for breaking these plates!
- Riddikulus
Riddikulus and ridiculous are two words spelled differently but have the same meaning: to be laughable.
Magic Words to Express Politeness
Magic words are referred to as such because they can “magically” make people like you. It’s essential to teach these words to children early so they can practice them daily.
- Actually
Use “actually” to politely correct someone or make a segue. Say: “Actually, instead of going to the mall, can we go to the park instead?” This is to avoid sounding demanding.
- Cordially
The new CEO was delighted to be greeted cordially by his employees.
- Excuse Me
Always say “excuse me” if someone is blocking your way, so you don’t bump into someone else and pass without a problem.
- Forgive Me
I don’t want to interrupt but forgive me; I must leave now because of a personal emergency.
- May I
I’m having a great time with you, and if you’re not in a hurry, may I stay with you for a while?
- Pardon Me
Pardon me, but I don’t think you understood what I just said.
- Please
Please follow the kind lady; she will guide you to your seats.
- Sorry
Learn to take responsibility for every mistake, and don’t forget to say sorry.
- Thank You
Always be grateful and say “thank you,” it’s a way to show that you recognize and appreciate the effort people put into whatever they did or gave you.
- You’re Welcome
My father told me to always reply with “you’re welcome” instead of just nodding my head whenever anyone thanked me.
Magic Words to Express Admiration
If there are magic words for everyday interactions with other people, there are also magic words to demonstrate acknowledgment and admiration. These words are used to nourish and enhance any relationship.
- Appreciate
I always appreciate my brother calling me on the weekends to update me on what’s currently happening in his life.
- Feel
Communicate with each other, tell what you feel, and respectfully offer your opinion on an issue to avoid turning simple problems into big ones.
- Happy
It makes me happy to know that my parents are very proud of me, even if I didn’t become a doctor as they initially thought I’d be.
- Help
Asking for help doesn’t make you look weak.
- Love
There are endless definitions of love, and we all have the right to give meaning to it depending on how we see fit.
- Lucky
Don’t take anyone for granted; remember how lucky you are to have them in your life.
- Miss
There’s no shame in telling someone you miss them.
- Respect
It’s unfair that people want to be respected but cannot respect others.
- Support
If my family didn’t give me their full support, I wouldn’t be where I am now.
- Together
Partners in a relationship must talk often and do things together to strengthen their bond.
- Understand
It’s okay to ask questions to understand a problem and find a suitable solution.
- We
Here’s my advice as your friend, if you want your relationship to last, avoid using “I,” and change it to “We.”
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Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn’t only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.
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На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.
The magic word here is perspective.
The magic word here is intent.
Consensus, that’s the magic word, you know, helping Tunisia to run our transition.
Вы знаете, консенсус — это магическое слово, которое помогает Тунису в преодолении нашей переходной ситуации.
The magic word «cholesterol» was the cause of one of the most common myths about eggs — about the harm of egg yolk for the heart and blood vessels.
Магическое слово «холестерин» стало причиной одного из самых распространенных мифов о яйцах — о вреде яичного желтка для сердца и сосудов.
The magic word here is TESTING.
The magic word for working with children is motivation.
The magic word «exclusives» often made a decisive argument in disputes.
Волшебное слово «эксклюзивы» часто выступало решающим аргументом в спорах.
The magic word… is «potato».
The magic word here is continuity.
The magic word, in this case, is «topic».
The magic word, what is it?
The magic word is movement — moderate, but regular
The magic word is usability (and time)
The magic word is «expect.»
The magic word here is «because.»
The magic word «Googly» that Alexandria repeats in the movie is also the name of the production company.
Волшебное слово «Googly», которое Александра повторяет в фильме, также является названием производственной кинокомпании.
The magic word is «food combining», and the rule behind it is super easy: you never eat carbs and protein together
Волшебное слово — «комбинирование пищи», и правило, стоящее за ним, очень просто: вы никогда не едите углеводы и белок вместе. Что теперь и
The magic word, the magic word-
«Please.» The magic word is «please.»
The magic word «Ablanathanalba,» which reads in Greek the same backward as forward, also occurs in the Abraxas-stones as well as in the magic papyri.
Магическое слово «Ablanathanalba», которое по-гречески читается одинаково как с начала, так и с конца, также встречается на геммах с A., равно как и в магических папирусах.
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#1
Hi, folks!
I am currently working on a translation into English about Berber jewels and one of the titles is «Magical/Magic Value». Which adjective would you choose? I know that magic is much more common, but… what about magical?
Could anyone tell me whether there is a difference in usage or meaning between the two?
Thanks in advance!
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#2
Hi,
Ok, I’ve just returned from dictionary.com, and would guess that magical (in the sense of enchanting) is what you are after. This is a more primary meaning of the word magical than of the word magic.
That said, there isn’t enough context available for me to know. Are the Berber jewels from a story where they are created by magic?
I also like the sound of the word magical better. I can give no rational explanation for this.
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#3
That’s of great help, Word Lover.
All the best from Barcelona.
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#4
Hi
It’s a magic place OR It’s a magical place
Thank you
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#5
Magic is a noun.
Magical is an adjective.
Therefore, «it’s a magical place».
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#7
Actually, magic can also be an adjective.
We need more context to decide whether it should be magic or magical.
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#8
Dear forum members!!!
Is it true that «magic» and «magical» when used as adjectives are interchangeable? Some examples are located below:
1. Magic/magical potion
2. Magic/magical wand
3. Magic/magical password
4. Magic/magical garments
5. Magic/magical car
6. Magic/Magical practices
7. Magic/Magical powers
8. Magic/magical moment
9. Magic/magical quality
Thanks in advance
Cagey
post mod (English Only / Latin)
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#9
This thread on the same subject Magic Vs. Magical comes to no conclusion on the issue.
It ends, quite reasonably, with a request for more context, which would be handy here as well. Such difference as there is between magic and magical might appear if you told us, for instance, what you have in mind for a magic/ magical car. Is it one that appears suddenly, produced by magic? Or is it one that performs magic? Examples and context help us to think about words and how they are used. Context itself can work magic.
Last edited: Aug 11, 2009
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#10
Unfortunately, I do not possess the context for all of these examples, only for some of them. What I have added is in bold, all the rest collocations are posted in the original form taken from a grammar book
1. Magic/magical potion
2. Magic/magical wand
3. Magic/magical password
4. Magic/magical garments
5. Magic/magical car
6. Medieval Magic/Magical practices
7. A little boy who has Magic/Magical powers
8. A truly Magic/magical moment
9. The journey had lost its Magic/magical quality
———————————————————
Magic/magical car
So, if a car appears suddenly, is it magic or magical? If it can produce something which is a magic, is it magic or magical? Does this logic work for other examples as well?
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#11
A magic car is a car that either appears from nowhere due to magic, or it is useful to someone trying to perform magic.
A magical car is a car that makes you feel as if something very special is happening or about to happen.
I think this difference would hold true for most examples where you can use the word magic or magical.
Magic deals with producing illusions; magical deals with producing feelings.
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#13
Hey,
Can someone please tell me which sentence is correct:
You’ve got magic fingers
You’ve got magical fingers
And if they’re both correct, which one is more common? I think that the first one sounds a little bit odd or unfamiliar, what do you think?
Thanks!
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#14
Thank you very much
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#15
I think that according to the explanations <above> we should use «magic» when about fingers because such fingers produce illusions that are unusual rather than some unusual feelings.
Last edited by a moderator: Jan 1, 2010
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#16
Well, a UK professor objected to the use of »Magic Italy» by the Italian tourist board:
http://alex-ateachersthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/07/magic-italy.html
If you think I’m talking nonsense, you can either read page 230 of Swan’s (2005) Practical English Usage, published by Oxford University Press, or check the use of magic and magical in the British National Corpus or in the Corpus of Contemporary American English. That’s what I did myself, too, and the answer is that I could only find examples of magical + country and none of magic + country. Which means that the phrase «magic Italy» in the video is WRONG and needs correcting to «magicAL Italy».
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#17
Well, a UK professor objected to the use of »Magic Italy» by the Italian tourist board:
http://alex-ateachersthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/07/magic-italy.html
While I prefer «magical» for an adjective, I recognize that many others are content to use «magic»:
Encased in the wax forms is the same magic world of ballet dancers,… Time Magazine Corpus
The sole source of discord in the magic forest is the human presence,… COHA
She had leapt joyfully at the chance of going shopping, when she reached the magic age of usefulness. BNC
M-W certainly accepts the use of «magic» as an adjective:
2 a : having unusually distinctive qualities resembling the supernatural :magic piece of paper, was free to go as I could — W.G.Shepherd> <the popular impression that a magic method has been invented for mastering a strange language in six weeks — F.N.Robinson> <a man who really had the magic touch — Leonard Bernstein> b : giving a feeling of enchantment <it was the most magic moment of the day … full of meaning and loveliness — Olive Johnson>
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#18
Hello.
I’ve been an English teacher for quite a few years, and this is a kind of question that comes up quite often in the lessons.
Despite what you might deduce from its usage, the truth is quite simple: in this particular case, there is no difference, or the difference lies solely in the message you are trying to convey.
Allow me to make a comparison, say for example we take two words equally similar and equally related, sand and sandy. Sand, the noun, can be an attribute of another noun (and not an adjective, as someone pointed out in a previous post), whereas sandy is an adjective. Now, imagine we are trying to describe a noun using these two words. We can describe them by using a descriptive approach (adjective) or an essential approach. If we say «sand clock» the idea is pretty clear: we are talking about a clock which essence, what makes it a clock, is sand. It’s constructed, among other things using sand, and sand is also its main component, or if not its main component, the defining one. We are talking about what kind of clock it is within the myriad of clocks there can be. If, on the other hand, we describe a clock as «sandy» (a sandy clock) we are describing an object that is not necessarily made of sand (it’s not what kind of clock it is), but that if we were to perceive using any/some of our senses, the perception closest to it would be that of sand.
Having said that, in the case of Magic vs Magical, since both words represent an abstract concept (as opposed to the concrete concept represented by sand/sandy) that cannot be perceived through our senses, the difference between one and the other lies in either the better sounding for the writer/speaker, or the desire to adequate oneself to the more common combination, that is, collocation. One would say more commonly Magic Wand, instead of Magical Wand, not so much because there is an actual difference in meaning, but because this is a more common combination. We can never forget that the language is at the service of the speaker, never vice versa.
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#19
…the desire to adequate oneself to the more common combination, that is, collocation…
Hello gate77tothelema
Can you clarify the meaning of that, please?
I must confess that this is my first encounter with «adequate» as a verb.
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#20
guess I’ve being reading too much 1600’s literature…
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#21
Well, according to the Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary (New Edition), page 865, magical and magic seems to be pretty much the same. I quote: ‘You use magic to describe something that does things, or appears to do things, by magic.’ ‘Something that is magical seems to use magic or to be able to produce magic.’ Is it me, or are the two things the same?
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#22
I agree with AWordLover that magical can have an extended of meaning of enchanting. This may be the main way in which people use it. She had a magical effect on him — it was love at first sight.
Magic tends to refer to the practice of magic. The conjuror had a magic wand. He performed some magic tricks. The magic word was Abracadra. The wicked witch drugged the princess with a magic potion.
There’s clearly a great deal of overlap. If you know of a rule, you know more than I do.
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#23
I read somewhere online: ‘it’s magical’. I thought they should have written: ‘it’s magic’ instead. Was I right, please?
Either could be correct. Without knowing the context, it’s impossible to say.
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#24
Either could be correct. Without knowing the context, it’s impossible to say.
The context was that steroid injections cured plantar fasciitis
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#25
I don’t think there’s any clear right or wrong here, cyberspace. If you tell me the injections are magic, I’ll understand that to mean «a type of magic.» I tend to hear «magic» as a noun. If you tell me the injections are magical, I’ll hear «magical» as an adjective and understand that to mean something like «magical things.»
«Magic» seems a little more likely to me in that remark, but «magical» doesn’t bother me.
Last edited: Nov 21, 2015
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#26
Many thanks for your help.