From the time J.K. Rowling published her first book in the Harry Potter series—Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 1997—fans were introduced to an expansive new world that they 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 Studios 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 and Expelliarmus to The Patronus Charm—and, of course, Wingardium Leviosa—we've included a complete Harry Potter spells list below with the series' most notable charms. If you want to continue to learn them on your own, there are also two popular book guides: The Unofficial Ultimate Harry Potter Spellbook and The Unofficial Harry Potter Spellbook. (Similar names, but different, we promise.)

Muggles, witches, and wizards: Grab your wands and enjoy!

A

harry potter in the deathly hallows part 2
Warner Bros.
  1. Aberto - Opens locked doors
  2. Accio - Summons objects
  3. Aguamenti - Summons water
  4. Alohomora - Unlocks objects
  5. Anapneo - Clears someone's airway
  6. Aparecium - Reveals secret, written messages
  7. 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)
  8. Ascendio - Propels someone into the air
  9. *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
  10. Avis - Conjures a small flock of birds

B

  1. Bat-Bogey Hex - Turns the target's boogers into bats
  2. Bombardo - Creates an explosion
  3. Brackium Emendo - Heals broken bones

C

  1. 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
  2. Confundo - Known as the Confundus Charm, it causes confusion of the target
  3. Conjunctivitis Curse - Affects the eyes and sight of a target
  4. Crinus Muto - Changes hair color and style
  5. *Crucio - One of three Unforgivable Curses, it causes unbearable pain in the target

D

  1. Diffindo - Used to precisely cut an object
  2. Disillusionment Charm - Causes the target to take on the appearance of its surroundings
  3. 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

    luna lovegood
    Warner Bros.
    1. Engorgio - Causes rapid growth in the targeted object
    2. Episkey - Heals minor injuries
    3. 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 produce a corpeal Patronus
    4. Erecto - Allows a witch or wizard to build a structure, like a tent
    5. Evanesco - Vanishes objects
    6. Expelliarmus - Forces an opponent to drop whatever is in their possession

    F

    1. Ferula - A healing charm that conjures wraps and bandages for wounds
    2. 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
    3. Fiendfyre Curse - Conjures destructive, enormous enchanted flames
    4. Finite Incantatem - A general counter-spell that's used to reverse or counter already cast charms
    5. Furnunculus Curse - A jinx that causes a breakout of boils or pimples

    G

    1. Geminio - Duplicates objects
    2. Glisseo - Transforms a staircase into a slide

    H

    1. Homenum Revelio - Reveals the presence of another person
    2. Homonculus Charm - Detects anyone's true identity and location on a piece of parchment; used to create the Marauder's Map

    I

    1. Immobulus - Immobilizes living targets
    2. Impedimenta - A temporary jinx that slows the movement of the target
    3. Incarcerous - Conjures ropes
    4. *Imperio - One of the three Unforgivable Curses, it places the target under the complete control of the caster
    5. Impervius - Makes an object waterproof
    6. Incendio - Conjures flames

    L

    dumbledore and harry potter
    Warner Bros.
    1. Langlock - Causes the target's tongue to stick to the roof of their mouth
    2. Legilimens - Invading or navigating another's mind
    3. Levicorpus - Levitates the target by their ankle
    4. Locomotor Mortis - The Leg-Locker curse bounds the target's legs
    5. Lumos - Illuminates the caster's wand

    M

    1. *Morsmordre - Conjures and projects Lord Voldemort's Dark Mark
    2. Mucus Ad Nauseam - Inflicts an extreme runny nose or cold
    3. Muffliato - Creates a buzzing sound in the target's ears to prevent eavesdropping

    N

    1. Nox - Reverses the lumos charm, extinguishing a wand's light

    O

    harry potter
    Warner Bros.
    1. Obliviate - Erases the target's memory
    2. Obscuro - Conjures a blindfold
    3. Oculus Reparo - Repairs eyeglasses
    4. Oppugno - Directs an object or person to attack a victim

    P

    1. Petrificus Totalus - Temporarily freezes or petrifies the body of the target
    2. Periculum - Conjures flares/red sparks
    3. Piertotum Locomotor - Incantation used to bring to life inanimate objects and artifacts
    4. Protean Charm - Links objects together for better communication
    5. Protego - Casts an invisible shield around the caster, protecting against spells and objects (except for The Killing Curse)

    R

    1. Reducto - Reduces the target to pieces
    2. Reducio - Shrinks an enlarged object to its regular size
    3. Renneverate - Awakens or revives the target
    4. Reparifors - Heals magical ailments like poisoning or paralysis
    5. Reparo - Fixes broken objects
    6. Rictusempra - A charm that disarms an opponent by tickling them
    7. Riddikulus - Used to defeat a Boggart, the charm allows the scary creature to assume a comedic form, disarming it

    S

    1. Scourgify - Cleans objects
    2. *Sectumsempra - Inflicts severe lacerations and haemorrhaging on the target
    3. Serpensortia - Conjures a live snake
    4. Silencio - Silences the target
    5. Sonorus - Amplifies the witch or wizard's voice
    6. Spongify - Softens the target
    7. Stupefy - The Stunning spell freezes objects and renders living targets unconscious

    T

    1. Tarantallegra - Aimed at the legs, causes uncontrollable dancing movement

    U

    1. Unbreakable Vow - A magically binding contract that results in the death of whoever breaks it

    W

    1. 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.’"
    harry potter
    Warner Bros.

    *Dark Magic

    For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter.

    Headshot of McKenzie Jean-Philippe
    McKenzie Jean-Philippe
    Editorial Assistant

    McKenzie Jean-Philippe is the editorial assistant at OprahMag.com covering pop culture, TV, movies, celebrity, and lifestyle. She loves a great Oprah viral moment and all things Netflix—but come summertime, Big Brother has her heart. On a day off you'll find her curled up with a new juicy romance novel.