Word plays in harry potter

As Harry Potter and the Cursed Child dominates book sales and the play entertains London audiences night after night, we examine the sources and humor of spell names in the entire Harry Potter series.

Wordplay is an essential part of the legendary success of the Harry Potter series of novels by J.K. Rowling and the current success of the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne. This device is perhaps clearest in the names of the spells throughout the series, most of which incorporate forms of Latin roots. This is humor that is accessible to parents and that kids can grow into, as they grew up with the series itself.

Good examples of spells hiding Latin are the movement spells in The Prisoner of Azkaban:

Hermione whispered, «Mobiliarbus!» The Christmas tree beside their table rose a few inches off the ground, drifted sideways, and landed with a soft thump right in front of their table, hiding them from view.

This spell, which moves trees and only trees, incorporates part of the Latin for tree, arbor.

Later in the same novel, there is another movement spell:

He muttered, «Mobilcorpus.» As though invisible strings were tied to Snape’s wrists, neck and knees, he was pulled into a standing position, head still lolling unpleasantly, like a grotesque puppet.

Mobilcorpus, which moves people, contains the Latin for body, corpus.

There are also spells like Lumos (Latin Lumen, for a spell that produces light. Lumen can be found in English «illuminate»). Expelliarmus (Latin Expellere, «drive out, drive away» for a forceful spell which seeks to drive your opponent away) and Aguamenti (Latin Aqua or perhaps Spanish Agua for a spell that produces water), which further capitalize on foreign roots. In addition to Latin roots, there is at least one spell with a Greek source, Episkey, which fixes Harry’s broken nose in The Half-Blood Prince. This word is derived from Greek episkeu, which means «to repair.»

Two spells in particular, Orchideous and Riddikulus, have an extra layer of fun hidden within them. Orchideous is a spell that produces flowers, but with the name of the spell containing the word hideous, the result may not be such a nice looking bouquet. This kind of play-on-words is echoed in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, when a character demonstrates the Engorgement spell (Engorgio!) and another character responds, «Consider me engorgimpressed.» The Riddikulus spell makes something frightening (a Boggart) into something funny or amusing to the caster of the spell- Boggarts are defeated by laughing at them, so you have to get «rid» of them by making them «riddikulus.»

Keeping track of what these spells are called and what they do can be complicated business, and it’s possible that even the author, J.K. Rowling, got a little confused. In Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, the following occurs:

«My elf has been stunned.» Diggory raised his own wand, pointed it at Winky, and said «Enervate!» Winky stirred feebly, Her great brown eyes opened.

This would suggest that the enervate spell revives creatures. The only problem is that enervate is a very bad name for a reviving spell, because the word enervate means to impair and is from a Latin word, enervare, that meant «to weaken», which is a popular meaning of the English word as well. No one is sure if this spell name was something Rowling did on purpose or whether it was an oversight, but to avoid this confusion, Rowling has since changed the name of this spell, which is also cast in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, to «rennervate», the name of the spell now meaning «to energize.»

This isn’t the only time a spell name source has been mysterious. The unlocking spell, Alohomora was said to be from the West African Sidiki dialect and mean «friendly to thieves.» The problem with this is that Sidiki is a West African name and what was probably meant was Sikidy, a form of divination practiced in Madagascar, off the coast of Africa. The Malagasy language spoken in Madagascar does have a word Alohamora used in Sikidy, which means, among other things, «favorable to thieves.»

When J.K. Rowling created the magical universe of Harry Potter, she obviously saw the task of naming things, like the spells, not as a burden, but as an opportunity to enrich the world and expand its reach. Harry Potter devotees can talk for days about what it «means» that there is Latin and other muggle languages sprinkled throughout the spell names. For a casual reader, a detail like that can open up a previously hidden door and confirm that there is so much more to discover in Rowling’s magical universe.

Presentation on theme: «Word Play in Harry Potter»— Presentation transcript:

1

Word Play in Harry Potter
Taren Donneaud Nathan

2

Main Characters Name Origins and Favorite Spells and Potions

3

Harry Potter Expelliarmus Expecto Patronum Favorite Spells
First Name: Harry Harry is JK Rowling’s favorite boys name. It is of Anglo-Saxon origin and means “power”. It is shared by the magician Harry Houdini. Last Name: Potter A name that JK Rowling has been fond of since childhood. Alludes to “Potter’s field”, a place where unclaimed bodies are buried, like those of orphaned children. Expelliarmus (Disarming Spell) — Latin combination of «expellere» meaning «to expel» and «arma» meaning «weapon or upper arm.“ Expecto Patronum (Spell used to conjure a Patronus) — In Latin, «expecto» is to «await, desire, or hope for» and «patronus» is «protector.» Hence, «to hope for a protector.» A Patronus is used to protect against a Dementor.

4

Associated Spell and Potions
Ron Weasley Felix Felicis Wingardium Leviosa Associated Spell and Potions Last Name: Weasley In Ireland, Weasels are considered unfortunate animals, which is a reference to the Weasleys being poor. Rowling has always been fond of weasels. Felix Felicis (Luck Potion) — «Felix» is Latin for «lucky, fortunate, or happy.» «Felicis» is derived from two Latin adjectives, one for «lucky» and one for «of the lucky.» It translates as «lucky of the lucky,» but seems more acceptable to write it as «luck of luck.» Could haves ties to the word «felicity» which means «extreme happiness.» Wingardium Leviosa (Levitation Charm) — «Wingardium» is a combination of the English word «wing» and the Latin word «arduus» meaning «steep.» «Leviosa» contains the Latin word «levare» meaning «ease, lift, or pick up».

5

Hermione Granger Alohomora Avis Oppugno Favorite Spells
First Name: Hermione Refers to the patron saint of high magic Means “well-born”, “earthly”, or “stone”. A character in Aeneid and A Winter’s Tale. Last Name: Granger May refer to the Granger movement to improve the lives of farmers, much like starting SPEW A granger is a very common person, like muggles Alohomora (Spell that opens locks) — Derived from the Hawaiian «Aloha» meaning «goodbye,» and the Latin word «mora,» meaning «obstacle.» Avis (Spell that Ollivander used to make birds fly out of Krum’s wand) — Latin for «bird.» Oppugno (Spell that makes conjured creatures attack on the command of the conjurer) — In Latin, means «I attack.»

6

Favorite Spell and Potion
Albus Dumbledore Sectumsempra Veritaserum Favorite Spell and Potion First Name: Albus Severe refers to “strict” or “cruel” which highlight his personality Mentioned in Mansfield Park a favorite novel of Rowling Last Name: Dumbledore A town in England Based on a person Rowling knew. Sectumsempra (Spell used to seriously cut another person) — In Latin, «sectum» means to «cut, wound, or amputate» and «sempra» is derived from the word «semper» meaning «always» or «at all times.» Hence, «to wound always or make a permanent wound.» Veritaserum (Truth Potion) — «Veritas» is Latin for «truth» and «serum» is a potion.

7

Favorite Spell and Potion
Severus Snape Sectumsempra Veritaserum Favorite Spell and Potion First Name: Severus Severe refers to “strict” or “cruel” which highlight his personality Mentioned in Mansfield Park a favorite novel of Rowling Last Name: Snape A town in England Based on a person Rowling knew. Sectumsempra (Spell used to seriously cut another person) — In Latin, «sectum» means to «cut, wound, or amputate» and «sempra» is derived from the word «semper» meaning «always» or «at all times.» Hence, «to wound always or make a permanent wound.» Veritaserum (Truth Potion) — «Veritas» is Latin for «truth» and «serum» is a potion.

8

Favorite Spell and Potion
Lord Voldemort Horcrux Morsmorde Favorite Spell and Potion Assumed Name: Lord Voldemort Refers to a dark wizard in medieval times named Voldemortist, meaning Lord of Evil In many European languages “mort” or “mord” means death or evil In French, “vol-de-mort” means flight from death. Horcrux — «Horcrux» when broken down in many languages means «outside the cross.» This is consistent with the very unholy nature of creating one, and why it is stricken from the pages in a lot of textbooks. «Crucis» means «pain or torture,» and «hor» is a shortened form of the noun «horreum,» which means «storehouse.» Thus, «tormenting storehouse.» A Horcrux is effectively a «storehouse» for the part of the soul that an individual destroys when killing someone. «Hor» can also remind readers of the words «horrible» and «horrid.» The English meaning for «crux» is «the critical feature or essence,» like the crux of an argument. Similar to the Latin translation, it then becomes understood as «essence storehouse.» Many consider the soul to be the essence of an individual. A «crux» is also defined as a «difficult puzzle,» so Horcruxes can then be seen as «horrible» or «tormenting puzzles.» In Egyptian mythology, Horus was the son of the god Osiris, who became the God of the Dead. Crux is also Latin for «cross.» If you combine these two words, you get the «cross of Horus,» also known as the «ankh» (a cross with a loop at the top). The ankh was the symbol of life. Thus, a Horcrux would ensure life. Morsmordre (Makes the Dark Mark appear in the sky) — Combination between «mors» (Latin for «death») and «mordere» (Latin for «to bite»). Death bite? No — Death Eater.

9

Unforgivable Curses Origins of the Unforgivable

In the wizarding world of Harry Potter, it sometimes seems like every word is a twist on another phrase, or comes from a Latin root.

The Harry Potter universe is complex and complicated, magical and wonderful, dark and sorrowful. The Wizarding World is both uniquely brilliant and still inspired by the ordinary world. Language and history, in particular, had a part in creating the world readers and viewers came to love.

And authors love playing with language and seeing what new and inventive ways they can translate and convey information. From the first book until the last, J.K Rowling scattered wordplay throughout her writing — the best known, of course, being that ‘Diagon Alley’ is a play on the word ‘diagonally’.

Grimmauld Place

Number 12 Grimmauld Place is the Black family household. It was first introduced in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and continued to surprise fans with its interesting history. It was the home of Regulus Black, Sirius’s younger brother, and the person who found the Slytherin locket Horcrux.

It was where Harry, Ron, and Hermione hid for part of their Horcrux quest, and where Sirius Black was reminded of his ancestry. It was just as Rowling described it, a grim old place.

Knockturn Alley

Just as Diagon Alley was named using the word diagonally, Knockturn Alley was named from the word nocturnally. Knockturn Alley is described by Hagrid as a «dodgy place,» as it is associated with many shops devoted to the Dark Arts — so it makes sense that it would be a play on ‘nocturnally’, as in ‘related to the night’ or ‘active at night’.

Potions & Their Translations

Potions are potent and delicate things. Snape tells his Potions students that potion-making is a «subtle science and exact art.» And most of the time, their names are a good indication of their purpose. «Veritaserum,» is a powerful truth serum with a name derived from Latin origins; «veritas,» translates to «truth,» and «serum» which is a common word, of course. The lucky potion that is «Felix Felicis» is made of two words meaning happy, lucky, prosperous, and variations thereof.

Sirius Black

Sirius Black is an Animagus who takes the form of a black dog. His name reveals his Animagus form as «Sirius» is a star, in particular, it is the Dog Star or Alpha Canis Majoris in the Canis Major, Latin for «Great Dog» constellation. Sirius is known as being the brightest star in the night sky, which is quite fitting for the Black family member who despised his family and what they stood for.

Sirius dies when he falls through the veil between life and death, a connection to the Sirius star as it is believed to be the doorway of the afterlife and a path of souls. Most of the Black family names have connections to their story, predicting their temperaments, actions, and deaths.

The Knight Bus

The Knight Bus is first introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban after Harry accidentally summons the magical vehicle during a fall. The Knight Bus comes to the aid of those who require it; those who need transportation other than Apparating, the Floo Network, Portkeys, or broomsticks. The words night and knight are homonyms, and a knight is someone who comes to the rescue, a savior.

Voldemort

Voldemort is an anagram of the name Tom Marvolo Riddle, created by Tom Riddle himself. This name just happens to mean something significant other than being a random string of letters that coincidentally fit together. The name Voldemort can be broken into three sounded parts of French origin. The word «Vol,» meaning «flight» or «theft,» while «de» means «of» or «from,» and «mort» means «death.» Voldemort tried to elude death by making Horcruxes.

Snape’s Words To Harry

«Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?» To most, these lines are a potion’s professor asking their student a question. But the real meaning of this question can be found by dissecting the meaning of the words. «Asphodel,» is a type of Lily whose flower translation is associated with remembrance beyond the grave, while wormwood is associated with bitterness and grief. Therefore, Snape’s first words to Harry are «my regrets follow you to the grave,» and that he bitterly regrets Lily’s death.

Mirror Of Erised

The Mirror of Erised is a magical artifact that shows the subject looking into the mirror their heart’s desire. The word «Erised,» is the word «Desire,» spelled backward.

The inscription engraved around The Mirror head also reads «Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.» Using mirror-writing, the engraving translates to «I show not your face but your heart’s desire.»

Spells & Their Translations

It’s no surprise that many of the spells in the Wizarding World have literal meanings for what they do, their names finding origin from magical, mystical sounding historic languages. The summoning charm «Accio» is of Latin origin meaning «I summon.» The spell that extinguishes light is «Nox,» meaning «night» in Latin. Harry’s much-loved spell of choice «Expelliarmus,» takes «expello,» which is Latin for «I banish,» and «arma» meaning «weapons.» The extremely difficult «Expecto Patronum,» takes the word «expecto,» meaning «I wait,» and «patronus,» meaning «protector/guardian.» The spell for water «Aquamenti,» is of «Aqua» meaning «water,» and «mentis» meaning «mind.»

Remus Lupin

It’s hard to think that Lupin had this name before he became a werewolf, but Rowling wrote his destiny, and a werewolf was he to be. The name «Remus» finds its origins in the ancient Roman tale of Remus and Romulus, two brothers raised by wolves. Remus’s father’s name is Lyall, meaning «wolf,» in Norse roots, meaning Remus was raised by a wolf. The name «Lupin» is of Latin roots meaning «wolf.»

NEXT: Harry Potter: 10 Mistakes JK Rowling Made In The Chamber Of Secrets Book

TARRY, POTHER and enjoy playing quizzes with anagrams and other types of word play based on the Harry Potter books.

34 quizzes and 370
trivia questions.

This is category 12090

Last Updated Apr 08 2023 5:49 AM

= Top 5% Rated Quiz,
Top 10% Rated Quiz,
Top 20% Rated Quiz,
A Well Rated Quiz

=
added recently, = Editor’s Pick
= FunTrivia Editor = Gold Member

Teachers / educators

: FunTrivia welcomes the use of our website and quizzes in the classroom as a teaching aid or for preparing and testing students. See our education section. Our quizzes are printable and may be used as question sheets by k-12 teachers, parents, and home schoolers.

 ·  All questions, answers, and quiz content on this website is copyright FunTrivia, Inc and may not be reproduced without permission. Any images from TV shows and movies are copyright their studios, and are being used under «fair use» for commentary and education.