Word used by magicians

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Magic words are often nonsense phrases used in fantasy fiction or by stage magicians. Frequently such words are presented as being part of a divine, adamic, or other secret or empowered language. Certain comic book heroes use magic words to activate their powers. Magic words are also used as Easter eggs or cheats in computer games, other software, and operating systems. (For example, the words xyzzy, plugh, and plover were magic words in the classic computer adventure game Colossal Cave Adventure.)

Invocations of magic[edit]

Examples of traditional and modern magic words include:^[1]

• Abracadabra – magic word used by magicians.
• Ajji Majji la Tarajji – Iranian magic word (Persian).^{[citation needed]}
• Alakazam – a phrase used by magicians.^[2]
• Hocus pocus – a phrase used by magicians.
• Jantar Mantar Jadu Mantar – a phrase used by magicians in India.
• Presto chango or Hey Presto – used by magicians (probably intended to suggest «quick change»).^[3]

Magic words in fiction[edit]

• Aajaye – used often by the clowns in Jaye’s magic circus.
• Ala Peanut Butter Sandwiches – used by The Amazing Mumford on Sesame Street.
• Azarath Metrion Zinthos, used by Raven in the DC Comics series Teen Titans, its 2003 TV series and its cartoon spin-off Teen Titans Go!.
• Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo – used by Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother.^[4]
• Boom Zahramay, a saying used in the Nickelodeon preschool show Shimmer and Shine.
• By the Power of Grayskull, I HAVE THE POWER – used by the Prince Adam, of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, to transform him into He-Man.^[5]
• Cei-u – used by the DC Comics superhero, Johnny Thunder, to summon his magical genie-like Thunderbolt.
• Fus Ro Dah – used as a shout by those with the voice in the Elder Scrolls video game series.
• Izzy wizzy, let’s get busy – Used on The Sooty Show when using Sooty’s magic wand.
• Hex! Hex! – used by Bibi Blocksberg in the popular German children’s audio drama series, called Bibi Blocksberg and Bibi and Tina.
• Joshikazam – used by Josh Nichols, a character from the popular Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh.
• Klaatu barada nikto – A phrase used in the 1951 movie The Day the Earth Stood Still. While not intended as magical words in that movie, they were used as such in the spoof horror movie Army of Darkness.
• Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho – Jambi on Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
• Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse – used on the children’s TV series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to make the Clubhouse appear.
• Oo ee oo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang, phrase used in song «Witch Doctor» performed by Ross Bagdasarian Sr., and released in 1958 by Liberty Records under the stage name David Seville.
• Open sesame – used by the character Ali Baba in the English version of a tale from One Thousand and One Nights.^[6]
• Ostagazuzulum – used by the title character, Wizbit, in the British Children’s TV series Wizbit.^[7]
• Sim Sala Bim – a phrase used by Harry August Jansen a.k.a. Dante The Magician, circa 1940. «Sim Sim Sala Bim» are the magic words said by Hadji on the shows The Adventures of Jonny Quest and The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. The line was used by Oscar «Oz» Diggs in Oz the Great and Powerful.
• Shazam – used by the comic book hero Billy Batson to change into Captain Marvel.
• Hey, Shadow, remember who you are (Russian: Тень, знай своё место, romanized: Ten, znay svoyo mesto, lit. ‘Shadow, know your place’) — an incantation used by a Scientist in a movie The Shadow to return his lost shadow, who became to live its own life, to its proper place.
• Schwan, kleb an! (literally «Swan, hold fast») — a spell used by the Youngest Brother in the tale «The Magic Swan» in the collection of Ludwig Bechstein. This spell made the people, who touched his magic swan, stick to the latter.
• Shimbaree, Shimbarah, Shimbaree, Shimbarah – used on the children’s video and TV series Barney and the Backyard Gang and Barney & Friends.
• Treguna Mekoides Trecorum Satis Dee – the spell for ‘Substitutiary Locomotion’ written on the Star of Astoroth in the movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
• Walla Walla Washington – Bugs Bunny in Looney Tunes.
• Wiggle Waggle – Greg Page in The Wiggles.

Craig Conley, a scholar of magic, writes that the magic words used by conjurers may originate from «pseudo-Latin phrases, nonsense syllables, or esoteric terms from religious antiquity», but that what they have in common is «language as an instrument of creation».^[8]

See also[edit]

• Eight Magic Words, magic words in politics
• Incantation
• Kotodama
• Mantra

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Media related to Magic words at Wikimedia Commons

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.

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.

Haven’t we all wondered what do magicians say when they perform those mind-boggling acts? Be it adults or children, magic is an art that manages to capture everyone’s mind and attention. So, here’s a list of some magic words, phrases, and their meanings for you to try and make sense of.

Popular Magician Words and Their Meanings

Some magic words have a specific meaning while most others are used purely for effect as they are fun and sound mysterious. What do magicians say while performing tricks? Here are some examples.

1. Abracadabra

Probably the most popular of all, abracadabra is a word magicians use when they want to make something appear or when a trick is revealed. Although the origin of this word is not known, it is believed to be derived from the Aramaic phrase “avra kehdavra,” loosely translating to “I will create as I speak.”

There was a time when these words were believed to hold real power. Usually uttered in one breath — AbraaaCadabraaa — it flows nicely, is simple and easy to speak, and signifies the magical moment. As most magicians call on children to do some tricks, this works wonderfully as children can say it without any difficulty.

2. Ta-da

Who hasn’t yelled out “Ta-da” to reveal something exciting! Magicians also use this word commonly as it is easy to say and rolls effortlessly off the tongue. The syllable has a positive feel to it, making it a fun word to say enthusiastically and is generally used to indicate the end of a trick. Typically said out in a sing-song way — Ta-daaaa — you can’t help but smile when saying it.

Ta-da is sometimes also said with excitement right when a magic trick is about to be revealed. Since it has only two rhyming syllables, it’s easy for even small children to understand. Sometimes magicians use it to make a moment light. For example, if they choose a wrong card or make a small mistake, they say “Ta-da” as they know it’ll invite a laugh from the crowd.

3. Wallah

Magicians use this word to signify the end of a trick by pointing towards something. It also serves as an applause cue and an exclamation point. Besides, magicians can use it to cover up a mistake, handle a small accident, or a moment of embarrassment. Magicians might look up and jokingly say “Wallaaa” as if to say it’s what they meant to do. As everyone understands the joke, it usually makes the audience smile or laughs.

This practice is also used to build up an effect. When the magic finally transpires, the crowd goes wild with all the pre-created tension. Derived from the French word Voila, meaning “it is here,” Wallah is easier to pronounce and is a lot clearer as compared to Voila, especially for children. It also sounds great, flows easily off the tongue, and is usually uttered melodiously similar to holding a music note — Wallaaaaah.

4. Alakazam

Alakazam is another common magic word but relatively recent as compared to the other common ones. A derivative of “abracadabra,” the word “Alakazam” is said to have originated from the Arabic language.

Alakazam is used by magicians when they want to depict the invocation of magical powers or to signify an immediate appearance or transformation of an object.

5. Shazam

A relatively recent addition to magicians’ dictionary, this word is usually used as an expression of wonderment. Magicians use this term to conjure a sudden or unexpected object from thin air. It sounds exotic and exciting!

And now with a superhero movie by the same name, it’s also become very popular among children.

Popular Magician Phrases and Their Meanings

6. Sim Sala Bim

This phrase was popularized by magician Dante in the early 20th century. Derived from a Danish nursery rhyme, magicians say this phrase in a deep, serious, and convincing tone usually as a precursor to a suspenseful trick. Some magicians also use it at the end of a trick along with a bow to indicate finality.

7. Presto Chango

This phrase comes from the word “presto,” meaning quickly. Magicians usually say this when transforming one object into another.

8. Hocus Pocus

Originally used by jugglers, magicians use the phrase “hocus pocus” when they are about to perform a particularly tricky act. Though there are many theories surrounding its origin, many believe it’s just a fancy phrase that developed just for its sound as it easily rhymes and rolls off the tongue easily, making it perfect for kids.

9. Ala Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Popularized in the TV show Sesame Street by a magician on the show who used this phrase when his tricks went wrong. It’s not a very popular phrase now.

10. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

First used in the movie Cinderella when the Fairy Godmother waves her wand to transform the pumpkin into a carriage, some magicians use this phrase while performing for kids. It’s a feel-good phrase that’s usually accompanied by a wand wave for more emphasis.

11. Open Sesame

Magicians love this phrase as it’s memorable, sounds funny, and sounds mystifying. It first originated in the story Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves when it was used to open a cave. So magicians often use this phrase when a trick involves opening a box or a door. A light-hearted phrase that’s easy to understand, it’s very popular among children and adults alike.

12. For the First Time

Magicians use this phrase to build wonder and suspense around a magic trick. They usually say it before revealing something to lead the audience to a higher level of conviction.

It’s also used to build credibility. For instance, a magician might say, “For the first time, name your card” or “For the first time, think of a word” to add mystery to the trick. It’s a way of emphasizing that there’s no way for the magician to know about the spectator’s card. It usually makes the trick more impressive and incredible.

What Do Magicians Say Before, During, and After A Trick?

Magicians have some standard phrases and words that they use before, during, and after a trick. Let’s take a look at a few common ones.

Before A Trick

• Are you ready?
• Get Ready to be Amazed!
• Sim Sala Bim
• Look, look, look!
• Hocus Pocus
• Abracadabra
• Check this out!
• Open Sesame
• Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
• Now!
• Presto Chango
• A La Peanut Butter Sandwiches
• Shazam
• Alakazam

During A Trick

• Don’t Blink or You’ll Miss It
• Wallah
• Just a Wave
• Would You Be Impressed…
• Ta-da
• Don’t Look Away
• Is There Any Way…
• For the First Time

After A Trick

• For My Next Trick.
• You Have Been a Great Audience.
• Thank You Very Much.
• Please Give a Round of Applause to My Helper.
• It’s Magic!
• Do You Want to See Another Trick?
• A Good Magician Never Repeats a Trick.
• I Don’t Even Know How It Is Done.

Why Do They Say It?

Magicians say these mysterious, odd, and sometimes funny-sounding words and phrases for various reasons. They say it before a trick to get the audience to focus their attention on them.

They use them while performing a trick either to build suspense and wonder or to distract the audience and divert their attention from the focus point so that they can pull off a trick smoothly. It also makes the trick more memorable and stronger in memory.

They say them after a trick to indicate the end of a trick and as a cue for the audience to react or applaud.

Popular Quotes on Magician Sayings

#1. “Magicians have done controlled testing in human perception for thousands of years.” — Teller

#2. “A good magician’s performance tells a story. Each act should build on the next, becoming ever more engaging to fill the audience with wonder. It’s a bud that unfurls into a flower, meant to woo the audience.” — Laura Lam

#3. “A magician is strong because he feels the pain between what the world is and what he would make of it.” — Lev Grossman

#4. “The magician and the politician have much in common: they both have to draw our attention away from what they are really doing.” — Ben Okri

#5. “Most magicians are afraid of magic.” — Max Maven

#6. “A magician with decreasing practice sessions will give defective performances.” — Amit Kalantri

#7. “Magic is not what magicians can do, but what they can’t do.” — Marty Rubin

#8. “It is the unspoken ethic of all magicians to not reveal the secrets.” — David Copperfield

#9. “A magician makes the visible invisible. A mime makes the invisible visible.” — Marcel Marceau

#10. “What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.” — Harry Houdini

#11. “Magicians will always tell you the trick is the most important thing, but I’m more interested in telling a story.” — Marco Tempest

#12. “Suspend for a moment your disbelief and encounter once again the sense of wonder you knew when there was magic!” — Andrew Lord

#13. “The art of a magician is to create wonder. If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy. ” — Doug Henning

#14. “Magicians can do more by means of faith than physicians by the truth.” — Giordano Bruno

#15. “Conjuring is the only absolutely honest profession: A conjuror promises to deceive and does.” — Karl Germain

#16. “Nothing must be left to chance in a magical performance. Everything conducive to enhancing the mystery of the illusions must be arranged with painstaking care and thought.” — David Devant

#17. “The average man is not hard to mystify.” — Howard Thurston

#18. “He is indeed the true enchanter, whose spell operates, not upon the senses, but upon the imagination and the heart.” — Washington Irving

A Few Parting Words

If you’ve been wondering about what do magicians say, I hope this has answered your question. I’ve given you quite a long list of magic words and phrases magicians usually use. So go on, use some of these words, maybe during your next party, and sprinkle some fun into your conversations!