Latin in Harry Potter

draco dormiens numquam titillandus

"Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important too -"

Professor Flitwick

Casting SpellsIn the Harry Potter books most spells are cast using Latin wordsThe Latin words tell us what the spell doesEnglish spells: riddikulus, bombarda What do these spells mean?

AccioCauses an object to fly to the caster, even over quite some distanceIt comes from the Latin word accio, accire, which means to send for or to fetchHow would you translate it?

SectumsempraCuts the person your are aiming atFrom seco, secare, secavi, secatus: to cut and the Latin word semperWhat does semper mean?

ConfundusCauses confusionComes from the verb confundo, confundere, confudi: to throw into disorder

LumosCauses a small beam of light to shiner from the castor’s wandComes from the Latin noun lumen, luminis: light

IncendioStarts a fireComes from the Latin verb incendo, incendere: to set fire to

NoxExtinguishes the light from the lumos spellIt is from the Latin noun nox, noctis: night

Finite Incantatem

Finite is a imperative (command) from the verb finio, finire, finivi: to endIncantatem from the noun incantatio, incantationis is the accusative form of charmIt stops whatever spell is being cast

Avada KevadraThe killing curseThis phrase is not Latin but Aramaic: "adhadda kedhabhra" Aramaic avada kedavraThe Phoenician alphabet (a-bra-ca-dabra)

ApparationA nonverbal spell from appareo, apparere, apparui: to appearIt is used to disappear from once place to someplace else almost instantly

Cave InimicumDefensive spell to keep enemies awayCave comes from caveo, cavere, cavi:

to beware ofInimicum comes from the noun inimicus, inimici: enemyCave canem?

MobilicorpusFrom mobilis which is an adjective meaning movable and corpus, corpiIt is a spell that moves an unconscious person

CrucioA unforgivable, illegal curse that causes the victim to experience horrible painIt is from the Latin word crucio, cruciare, cruciavi- to torment or cause anguish

Expecto Patronum

From expecto, expectare, expextavi- to expect or look for + patronus, patroni: patron/protectorThis spell conjures a Patronus

ImperioOne of the unforgivable curses that causes the victim to be under the complete control of the castorIt is from the Latin verb impero, imperare, imperavi which means to order or command

ExpelliarmusFrom the Latin verb expello, expellere, expuli: to drive out + arma the Latin noun that means weaponCauses the opponent’s weapon to fly out of his or her hand

ObliviateErases a person’s memoryComes from the verb obliviscor, oblivisci: to forget

MorsmordreThis spell causes the ‘dark mark’ to be cast in the skyIt is from the Latin nouns mors which means death + mordeo, mordere, momordi: to bite

Wingardium Leviosa

This spell causes an object to levitateIt comes from the English noun for wing + arduus the Latin adjective for high/steep + levo, levare, levavi: to lift/hold up

ReparoThis spell causes an object to be repairedIt comes from reparo, reparare, reparavi: to prepare again, renew, reviveoculus reparo is the spell in the pictureocculus is from occulus, occuli: eye

Let’s test your knowledge…

Work with a partner to complete the Incantiones WorksheetThe group with the most amount correct will win candyThis will count as a class work grade!

Incantiones Answers

9 Petrificius Totalus H N K12 Densaugeo B G 1 Expecto Patronum QI2 Nox J11 Confundus R7 Deletrius C5 Wingardium Levisoa F

Incantiones Answers Cont

6 Locomotor Mortis OL3 Expelliarmus P 4 Finitie incantantem AM10 Finitie incantantem DM8 Lumos E

Plus Incantiones

Answers4 Reparo J5 Mobilicorpus GI 8 Accio F9 Rictussempra EN10 Incendio M3 Obliviate K1 Diffindo L

Plus Incantiones Answers Con’t7 Impendiment Curse B

11 Imperius Curse H 6 Aparercium A2 Fidelius Charm C12 Cruciatus Curse D