Spells - I

Impedimenta (Impediment Jinx, Impediment Curse)

Pronunciation: im-ped-ih-MEN-tah (IPA: /ɪm.ˌpɛ.dɪ.'mɛn.ta/

Description: This hex is capable of tripping, freezing, binding, knocking back and generally impeding the target's progress towards the caster. The extent to which the spell's specific action can be controlled by the caster is not made clear. If this spell does bind it does eventually wear off as stated in Deathly Hallows.
Seen/Mentioned: Used in Goblet of Fire when Harry is practicing for the third task. Also used by Madam Hooch to shortly stop Harry from fighting with Draco. Also seen toward the end of Order of the Phoenix, when Harry is fighting the Death Eaters. Stronger uses of this spell seem capable of blowing targets away.
Suggested Etymology: Latin impedimentum (plural impedimenta) meaning "a hindrance" or "an impediment".

Imperio (Imperius Curse)

Pronunciation: im-PEER-ee-oh (IPA: [ɪm.'pi.ɹi.ˌəʊ]) (classical Latin: eem-PEHR-ee-oh (IPA: [im.ˈpɛɾ.i.ˌɔ])

Description: Causes the victim of the curse to obey the spoken/unspoken commands of the caster. The experience of being controlled by this curse is described as a complete, wonderful release from any sense of responsibility or worry over one's actions, at the price of one's free will. Resisting the effect of the curse is possible, however, and several individuals have been able to successfully overcome it, including Harry and both of the Crouchs, who learn to resist the curse after being subjected to its effects for an extended period. Harry describes the feeling of being the caster as controlling a marionette through a wand (although Harry's particular experience is suspect due to his lack of commitment to casting Unforgivable Curses). One of the three Unforgivable Curses.
Seen/Mentioned: first mentioned (not by name) in the first book when Ron told Harry that Lucius Malfoy claimed himself being jinxed during the first war, thus Lucius evaded capture. First seen in Goblet of Fire introduced by Barty Crouch Jr (acting as Moody) and used on a spider. Used by Harry in Deathly Hallows on a Gringotts goblin and a Death Eater.
Suggested Etymology: Imperare is Latin for "to order, command", and is the root of several modern English words. Imperium means "command" or "domain", and imperio means (among other things) "with authority". (Compare to impero, "I command", and to crucio above.) Imperius is not, however, a Latin word.

Impervius (Impervius Charm)

Pronunciation: im-PURR-vee-uss (IPA: [ɪm.'pɝ.vi.ˌɛs])

Description: This spell makes something repel (literally, become impervious to) substances and outside forces, including water.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione in Prisoner of Azkaban on Harry's glasses while in a Quidditch match and also by the Gryffindor Quidditch team in Order of the Phoenix, both times to allow team members to see in a driving rain. Also used in Deathly Hallows, first by Ron to protect objects in Yaxley's office from rain, and then by Hermione in an attempt to protect Harry, Ron and Griphook from the burning treasure in the Lestranges' vault.
Suggested Etymology: Latin impervious meaning "impassable".

Incarcerous

Pronunciation: in-CAR-ser-us (IPA: [ɪn.'kaɹ.sɝ.ˌɪs])

Description: Ties someone or something up with ropes.
Seen/Mentioned: First heard in Order of the Phoenix, when Umbridge gets in a battle with the centaurs. Also used by Harry on the Inferi in Voldemort's Horcrux chamber, in Half-Blood Prince.
Suggested Etymology: English incarcerate meaning "to imprison" or "to confine".

Incendio

Pronunciation: in-SEN-dee-oh (IPA: [ɪn.'sɛn.di.ˌəʊ])

Description: Produces fire.[20]
Seen/Mentioned: It is first seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when Hagrid (non-verbally) produces fire out of his umbrella in the little house the Dursleys took refuge in (from the Hogwarts letters). In Half-Blood Prince, this spell is used several times in battle, for instance when Hagrid's hut is set ablaze.
Suggested Etymology: Latin incendo meaning "to set fire"

Spells - G/H

Geminio

Pronunciation: jeh-MIH-nee-oh or geh-MIH-nee-oh (hard "g") (IPA: /dʒə.ˈmɪ.ni.əʊ/ or /ɡə.ˈmɪ.ni.əʊ/)

Description: Creates a duplicate of any object upon which it is cast. As revealed by the goblin Griphook, any copies created are worthless.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione in Deathly Hallows to copy Salazar Slytherin's locket in order to hide their tracks from Umbridge.
Suggested Etymology: Latin gemino meaning "to double".

Glisseo

Pronunciation: GLISS-see-oh or gliss-SAY-oh (IPA: /ˈɡlɪs.si.əʊ/ or /ɡlɪs.ˈse.əʊ/)

Description: Causes the steps on a stairway to flatten and form a ramp or slide.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione to escape from pursuing Death Eaters in Deathly Hallows. Used on the girls dormitory to ensure that boys cannot get in.
Suggested Etymology: French glisser meaning "slide".


Homenum Revelio

Pronunciation: HOM-eh-num reh-VEH-lee-oh (IPA: /ˈhɔ.mɛ.nʌm ɹə.ˈvɛ.li.əʊ/

Description: Reveals humans near the caster.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Dumbledore to detect Harry under his Invisibility Cloak, but first named when used multiple times by various characters in Deathly Hallows.[26].
Suggested Etymology: Latin homo/hominis meaning "person" and Latin revelo meaning "to unveil".

Spells - F

Ferula

Pronunciation: feh-ROO-lah (IPA: /fɛ.'ɹu.lə/)

Description: Creates a bandage and a splint.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Lupin in Prisoner of Azkaban to bind Ron's broken leg.
Suggested Etymology: Latin ferula meaning "a stick".

Finite Incantatem

Pronunciation: fi-NEE-tay in-can-TAH-tem (IPA: /fɪ.'ni.teɪ (ɪn.kn̩.'tæ.dm)̩/)

Description: Negates many spells or the effects of many spells.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione in the Chamber of Secrets to stop a rogue bludger bewitched by Dobby. Snape uses it in Chamber of Secrets to restore order in the Duelling Club when Harry and Draco are duelling. Lupin uses the short form "Finite" in Order of the Phoenix. In Deathly Hallows, Hermione suggests to Ron to attempt to use this spell to stop it raining in Yaxley's office. Harry used Finite to counter Crabbe's Descendo attack on Ron in the same book.
Suggested Etymology: Latin finio meaning "to put an end to" and Latin cantio meaning "enchantment".


Flagrate

Pronunciation: fluh-GRAYT, FLAH-grayt, fluh-GRAH-tay (IPA: /flə.ˈɡɹæ.te/)

Description: With this spell, the caster's wand can leave fiery marks.
Seen/Mentioned: Cast by Tom Riddle in The Chamber of Secrets to spell out 'Tom Marvolo Riddle' and switch it to 'I am Lord Voldemort' also cast by Hermione in Order of the Phoenix to identify doors of the Department of Mysteries which members of Dumbledore's Army had already opened, by marking them with an 'X'.
Suggested Etymology: Latin flagro meaning "glowing"


Furnunculus (Furnunculus Curse)

Pronunciation: fer-NUN-kyoo-lus
Description: Causes the target to become covered in boils.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Harry in Goblet of Fire on Draco, but was deflected onto Goyle instead. Also used later in the book when Draco tried to harass Harry on the Hogwarts Express and was hit with a couple of curses, including the Furnuculus Curse (which was cast by Harry).[GF Ch.37]
Suggested Etymology: Latin furunculus originally meaning "petty thief" but later used to mean "boil" in English.

Spells - E

Engorgio (Engorgement Charm)

Pronunciation: en-GOR-jee-oh (IPA: /ɪn.'gɔ˞.dʒi.əʊ/)

Description: Causes objects to swell in size.
Seen/Mentioned: A "Growth Charm" with the same effect is briefly mentioned. Hagrid is suspected of having performed the charm on his pumpkins in Chamber of Secrets. Then seen in Goblet of Fire when Barty Crouch Jr, impersonating Moody, casts it on a spider to enhance a demonstration of the effects of the Cruciatus Curse, and Ron suggested it might be the cause of Hagrid's abnormal size before learning that he is half-giant. Harry in Deathly Hallows also cast it on a spider.
Suggested Etymology: English word engorge meaning "to fill to excess".

Episkey

Pronunciation: eh-PIS-key (IPA: /ɛpɪ'ski/)

Description: Used to heal relatively minor injuries. When this spell is cast, the person feels their injured body part go very hot and then very cold.
Seen/Mentioned: Used in Goblet of Fire after the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. In Half-Blood Prince, Nymphadora Tonks uses this spell to fix Harry's broken nose; also used by Harry in the same book to fix Demelza Robins' mouth.
Suggested Etymology: Greek episkeu meaning "repair, restoration".[15]
Notes: Rowling writes in Half-Blood Prince that Harry's knowledge tells him this spell could belong to a family (or variety) of Healing Spells.

Erecto

Pronunciation: ee-RECK-toh or eh-RECK-toh (IPA: /ɪ.ˈɹɛk.təʊ/ or /ə.ˈɹɛk.təʊ/)

Description: Used to erect a tent or other structure.
Seen/Mentioned: Possibly used in Goblet of Fire by wizards at the campsites near the Quidditch World Cup. Used by Hermione and Harry to construct shelter for themselves and Ron in Deathly Hallows.
Suggested Etymology: Latin erectus meaning "to set up, to raise"

Evanesco (Vanishing Spell)

Pronunciation: ev-an-ES-koh (IPA: (IPA: /ɛ.vn̩.'ɛs.kəʊ/)
Description: Makes the target vanish.
Seen/Mentioned: Used in Order of the Phoenix by Snape to make Harry's potions disappear from his cauldron. In addition, when Fred and George were showing off their puking pastilles, Lee Jordan cleared the bucket of vomit with the Evanesco spell. During their stay at #12, Grimmauld Place, Bill uses this on a stack of documents. This suggests that Vanished objects can be recovered.
Suggested Etymology: Latin evanesco meaning "to vanish".[13]
Notes: According to Minerva McGonagall, in Deathly Hallows, Vanished objects and organisms go "into non-being, which is to say, everything." This was McGonagall's response to the question, "Where do Vanished objects go?" from the doorknocker at Ravenclaw Tower.

Expecto Patronum (Patronus Charm)

Pronunciation: ex-PEK-toh pa-TROH-num

Description: Conjures an incarnation of the caster's innermost positive feelings, such as joy, hope, or the desire to survive, known as a Patronus. A Patronus is conjured as a protector, and is a weapon rather than a predator of souls: Patronuses shield their conjurors from Dementors, and can even drive them away. A Patronus "cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so Dementors can't hurt it."[16] The conjured Patronus protects the witch or wizard that summoned it, obeys his or her commands, and fades away shortly after it is no longer required. When conjured, a Patronus appears silvery, ethereal, and semi-transparent. Improperly formed Patronuses range from momentary formless bursts of silvery mist, to poorly-defined forms which are easily defeated or quickly dissipate on their own. A full-fledged (or corporeal) Patronus takes on a fixed animal form that is often significant to the witch or wizard casting the charm. Patronuses summoned by a particular person have been known to change, such as Tonks' patronus. Rowling has said that Snape was the only Death Eater to be able to produce a Patronus. According to her this is 'because a Patronus is used against things that the Death Eaters generally generate, or fight alongside. They would not need Patronuses'.[17] According to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Charm is also the only known defensive spell against Lethifolds.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in Prisoner of Azkaban when a Dementor appears in the Hogwarts Express, and Hermione says that Remus Lupin repelled the Dementor by casting a silvery object from his wand. Harry's corporeal Patronus first appears when Draco Malfoy & his friends dress up as Dementors in an attempt to sabotage Harry, he decides to ask Lupin to teach him how to defend himself against the dementors and takes classes where a boggart takes the form of a dementor. He then uses it again towards the end of the book while trying to repel hundreds of Dementors from Sirius and himself.
Notes: Dumbledore has devised a method of using Patronuses to deliver messages putting it into the exclusive use of the Order of the Phoenix. Members of the Order are the only wizards who know how to use their spirit guardians to send messages to one another. According to Rowling, the Patronus is "an immensely efficient messenger" as it is not hindered by physical obstructions or dark matters. Each Patronus has a special quality and appearance that is different and easy to recognise, which makes it clear which Order member has sent the message. In addition, since no one can conjure another person's Patronus, this method of communication does not carry the risk of passing fake messages.[18] It is noteworthy that in Deathly Hallows, McGonagall creates three Patronuses simultaneously to summon Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and Slughorn.
Suggested Etymology: Expecto Patronum is Latin for "I await a protector".[19] It is related to "pater" (father) and Harry's Patronus indeed takes the same form as that of his father's (a stag).

Expelliarmus (Disarming Charm, Disarming Spell)

Pronunciation: ex-pel-ee-AR-mus (IPA: /ɛks.ˌpɛ.li.'a˞.mɪs/)

Description: This spell is used to disarm another wizard, typically by causing the victim's wand to fly out of reach[20][21]. It can also throw the target backwards when enough power is put into it. As demonstrated in Prisoner of Azkaban, simultaneous use of this spell by multiple witches or wizards on a single person can throw the wizard back with much greater force.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in Chamber of Secrets, when Snape disarms Gilderoy Lockhart in the Duelling Club; from then on it is commonly used throughout the rest of the series. Draco uses it to disarm Dumbledore and Harry uses the spell to not only disarm Gregory Goyle in the Room of Requirement, but also to reflect Voldemort's killing curse during the final battle. It is seen by the Death Eaters as Harry's signature spell, as he had used it to duel Voldemort in both Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows.
Suggested Etymology: Latin expello meaning "to expel, to thrust away" and Latin arma meaning "weapons of war".

Expulso

Pronunciation: ecks-PUL-soh (IPA: /ɛks.ˈpʊl.səʊ/)

Description: A spell which causes objects that it comes in contact with to violently explode.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by a Death Eater in an attempt to capture Harry in Deathly Hallows.
Suggested Etymology: Latin pulso meaning "to strike"

Spells - D

Defodio (Gouging Spell)

Pronunciation: deh-FOH-dee-oh (IPA: dɛ.ˈfəʊ.di.əʊ/)

Seen/Mentioned: Cast by Harry, Ron and Hermione in Deathly Hallows to help dig their way out of the Gringotts Tunnels.[DH Ch.26]
Suggested Etymology: Latin defodio, meaning, "to dig, dig out."

Deletrius

Pronunciation: deh-LEE-tree-us (IPA: /də.'li.tɹi.əs/)

Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Goblet of Fire when Amos Diggory gets rid of the echo of the Dark Mark from Harry's wand.[GF Ch.9]
Suggested Etymology: English word delete meaning to remove.

Densaugeo

Pronunciation: den-SAW-jee-oh /dɛn.'sɔ.dʒi.əʊ/)

Description: Causes the teeth of the recipient to grow at an alarming rate.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Goblet of Fire, cast by Draco on Harry, which is then deflected onto Hermione.[GF Ch.18]
Suggested Etymology: Latin dens meaning, "tooth" and augeo meaning to "enlarge".

Deprimo

Pronunciation: DEH-prih-moh.

Seen/Mentioned: Introduced in Deathly Hallows when Hermione casts this to blast a hole in the Lovegood's living room floor.[DH Ch.21]
Suggested Etymology: Latin deprimo which means to "dig deep".

Descendo

Pronunciation: deh-SEN-doh (IPA: /dɛ.ˈsɛn.dəʊ/)

Seen/Mentioned: Seen twice in Deathly Hallows, it is cast by Ron to magically cause the stairs in his room to descend,[DH Ch.6] and later by Crabbe in the Room of Requirement to lower the wall behind which Ron is hiding.[DH Ch.31]
Suggested Etymology: Latin descendo meaning, "to come down, to descend".

Diffindo (Severing Charm)

Pronunciation: dif-FIN-doh (IPA: /dɪ.'fɪn.dəʊ/)

Seen/Mentioned: In Goblet of Fire when Harry urgently wants to talk to Cedric he casts this spell to rip his bag, delaying him for class,[GF Ch.9] and in Half-Blood Prince to switch covers of his potion books. Also shown several times in Deathly Hallows, for cutting ropes,[DH Ch.9] chains,[DH Ch.13] etc.
Suggested Etymology: Latin diffindo, "I divide."

Dissendium

Pronunciation: dis-EN-dee-um (IPA: /dɪ.'sɛn.di.əm/)

Description: Causes the statue of the humpbacked witch hiding the secret passage to Honeydukes, as well as other hidden passageways, to open up.[PA Ch.10]
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Prisoner of Azkaban.
Suggested Etymology: Latin discedo meaning "I swerve".

Duro

Pronunciation: DOO-roh (IPA: })

Description: Turns its target to stone.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen in Deathly Hallows, cast by Hermione while escaping from Death Eaters in Hogwarts.[DH Ch.32]
Suggested Etymology Latin duro meaning "I make hard".