A Complete List of the Essential Harry Potter Spells
From the time J.K. Rowling published her first book in the Harry Potter series—1998's Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets—she introduced fans to an expansive new Wizarding World that fans have been lost in ever since.
Potterheads have an eight movie film franchise that never gets old, inspiring quotes from the novels, an actual Universal theme park, and thousands of addictive fan fiction stories. And yet another element to add to the dynamic magical universe is a literal language created by Rowling, comprised of dozens of spells, charms, and hexes that Harry Potter wouldn't be complete without.
On WizardingWorld.com, it's explained: "The origins of many incantations [harken] back to Latin terms and phrases; some spells translate pretty directly, while others have been carefully crafted and assembled from fragments of other languages."
From alohomora, expelliarmus, and The Patronus Charm—and, of course, the infamous "wingardium leviOsa"—we've included a complete Harry Potter spells list below with the series' most notable charms. And if you want to continue to learn them on your own, there's also two popular book guides: The Unofficial Ultimate Harry Potter Spellbook and The Unofficial Harry Potter Spellbook. (Similar names, but different, we swear.)
Muggles, witches, and wizards: Grab your wands, and enjoy!
A
Aberto - Opens locked doors
Accio - Summons objects
Aguamenti - Summons water
Alohomora - Unlocks objects
Anapneo - Clears someone's airway
Aparecium - Reveals secret, written messages
Apparate - A non-verbal transportation spell that allows a witch or wizard to instantly travel on the spot and appear at another location (disapparate is the opposite)
Ascendio - Propells someone into the air
*Avada Kedavra - Also known as The Killing Curse, the most evil spell in the Wizarding World; one of three Unforgivable Curses; Harry Potter is the only known witch or wizard to survive it
Avis - Conjures a small flock of birds
B
Bat-Bogey Hex - Turns the target's boogers into bats
Bombardo - Creates an explosion
Brackium Emendo - Heals broken bones
C
Capacious Extremis - Known as the Extension Charm, it's a complicated spell that can greatly expand or extend the capacity of an object or space without affecting it externally
Confundo - Known as the Confundus Charm, it causes confusion of the target
Conjunctivitis Curse - Affects the eyes and sight of a target
Crinus Muto - Changes hair color and style
*Crucio - One of three Unforgivable Curses, it causes unbearable pain in the target
D
Diffindo - Used to precisely cut an object
Disillusionment Charm - Causes the target to take on the appearance of its surroundings
Disapparate - A non-verbal transportation spell that allows a witch or wizard to instantly travel on the spot and leave for another location (apparate is the opposite)
E
Engorgio - Causes rapid growth in the targeted object
Episkey - Heals minor injuries
Expecto patronum - The Patronus Charm is a powerful projection of hope and happiness that drives away Dementors; a corpeal Patronus takes the the respective animal form of the caster, while a non-corpeal appears as a wisp of light; at 13, Harry Potter was the youngest known witch or wizard to prouduce a corpeal Patronus
Erecto - Allows a witch or wizard to build a structure, like a tent
Evanesco - Vanishes objects
Expelliarmus - Forces an opponent to drop whatever's in their possession
F
Ferula - A healing charm that conjures wraps and bandages for wounds
Fidelius Charm - A complex charm that conceals a secret into the soul of a chosen "Secret Keeper;" if a location is the subject of concealment, it becomes undetectable to others
Fiendfyre Curse - Conjures destructive, enormous enchanted flames
Finite Incantatem - A general counter-spell that's used to reverse or counter already cast charms
Furnunculus Curse - A jinx that causes a breakout of boils or pimples
G
Geminio - Duplicates objects
Glisseo - Transforms a staircase into a slide
H
Homenum Revelio - Reveals the presence of another person
Homonculus Charm - Detects anyone's true identity and location on a piece of parchment; used to create the Marauder's Map
I
Immobulus - Immobilises living targets
Impedimenta - A temporary jinx that slows the movement of the target
Incarcerous - Conjures ropes
*Imperio - One of the three Unforgivable Curses, it places the target under the complete control of the caster
Impervius - Makes an object waterproof
Incendio - Conjures flames
L
Langlock - Causes the target's tongue to stick to the roof of their mouth
Legilimens - Invading or navigating another's mind
Levicorpus - Levitates the target by their ankle
Locomotor Mortis - The Leg-Locker curse bounds the target's legs
Lumos - Illuminates the caster's wand
M
*Morsmordre - Conjures and projects Lord Voldemort's Dark Mark
Mucus Ad Nauseam - Inflicts an extreme runny nose or cold
Muffliato - Creates a buzzing sound in the target's ears to prevent eavesdropping
N
Nox - Reverses the lumos charm, extinguishing a wand's light
O
Obliviate - Erases the target's memory
Obscuro - Conjures a blindfold
Oculus Reparo - Repairs eyeglasses
Oppugno - Directs an object or person to attack a victim
P
Petrificus Totalus - Temporarily freezes or petrifies the body of the target
Periculum - Conjures flares/red sparks
Piertotum Locomotor - Incantation used to bring to life inanimate objects and artifacts
Protean Charm - Links objects together for better communication
Protego - Casts an invisible shield around the caster, protecting against spells and objects (except for The Killing Curse)
R
Reducto - Reduces the target to pieces
Reducio - Shrinks an enlarged object to its regular size
Renneverate - Awakens or revives the target
Reparifors - Heals magical ailments like poisoning or paralysis
Reparo - Fixes broken objects
Rictusempra - A charm that disarms an opponent by tickling them
Riddikulus - Used to defeat a Boggart, the charm allows the scary creature to assume a comedic form, disarming it
S
Scourgify - Cleans objects
*Sectumsempra - Inflicts severe lacerations and haemorrhaging on the target
Serpensortia - Conjures a live snake
Silencio - Silences the target
Sonorus - Amplifies the witch or wizard's voice
Spongify - Softens the target
Stupefy - The Stunning spell freezes objects and renders living targets unconscious
T
Tarantallegra - Aimed at the legs, causes uncontrollable dancing movement
U
Unbreakable Vow - A magically binding contract that results in the death of whoever breaks it
W
Wingardium Leviosa - Causes an object to levitate; but remember what Hermione said: "It’s Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long.’"
*Dark Magic
For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter.
You Might Also Like