"Avada Kedavra" is an unforgivable spell

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

If you've read the Harry Potter series or watched the Harry Potter movies, you've probably heard of Avada Kedavra. But do you know what this spell is and how it differs from others? What is its translation? Not? Then we will tell you more about it, and also remember a few other magic words that have a lot in common with this spell.

General information

Let's start with some general information about this spell. It is classified as unforgivable and is officially banned by the Ministry of Magic. Its use instantly kills a person. There are no counterspells against him, so his action is irreversible. The only survivor after its application is Harry Potter. "Avada Kedavra" is repeatedly mentioned in the book, which makes this spell one of the most famous.

It is worth noting that the wizard who used it will instantly be sent to Azkaban for the rest of his days. Therefore, few people dare to use it. Exception - LordVoldemort and his minions, who prefer to kill their enemies with this spell.

Meaning and translation

There is no consensus about the meaning and translation of this spell. Many Harry Potter fans are looking for the answer to this question on their own.

For the sake of interest, we tried to use Latin dictionaries, looking for the phrase "Avada Kedavra" in them. The translation of this phrase, as well as individual words, was not found. Then we decided to look for the answer to our question in the fan clubs dedicated to the work of Rowling.

We found two versions that can be considered quite true and worthy of attention. Some sources claim that this phrase is translated from Aramaic as "I kill with a word." Alternatively, there is also a translation of "I kill with my word."

There is also an opinion that the text of this spell and its name were invented by JK Rowling by analogy with the famous phrase "Abracadabra". But there is no confirmation of this theory.

In our opinion, both versions have their place. As for Rowling, we did not find information about exactly how she translates this spell and what its etymology actually is.

Mentions in the book

So, we tried to make out the etymology of the Avada Kedavra spell, what it means, we found out. Now let's remember when this expression was mentioned in the Harry Potter book itself.

The author begins to acquaint us with a deadly spell back inthe first part, telling the story of the death of Harry's parents. But at the same time, the writer does not mention either the magic words themselves or their effects.

We get acquainted with the spell itself already in the fourth book - "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". Professor Moody talks about him in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. It is in this part that we learn not only that Avada Kedavra is one of the three unforgivable spells, but also get acquainted with exactly how it works.

Further, this expression occurs in the fifth, sixth and seventh books.

Not only Harry's parents die from the spell, but also his godfather Sirius Black, the director of Hogwarts, Hedwig the owl and many other characters in the book.

Harry Potter himself was twice exposed to it, but was able to cheat death both times.

Other unforgivable spells

There are only three dark unforgivable spells in the world of Potter, the use of which threatens with life imprisonment in Azkaban. We have already covered one of them - "Avada Kedavra", let's now briefly discuss the other two.

The first is "Cruciatus" ("Crucio"), which is translated from Latin as "to torment". The use of this spell causes a terrible and unbearable pain to a person. Used in the book by both negative (Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange) and positive (Harry Potter) characters.

Second - "Imperius" ("Imperio"), translated from Latin as "I command","I command." This spell suppresses the will and subjugates a person. While under its effect, the victim obeys all orders given by the wizard who cast it.

The third one, as we have already said, is Avada Kedavra.

All three spells have a few things in common. First of all, as already mentioned, they are all unforgivable. Secondly, they were one of the favorite spells of Voldemort and all who served him. In addition, the most high-profile and terrible crimes described in the Harry Potter series of novels are associated with them.