The A-Z of Harry Potter Wizarding Words
Overview
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ is one of the most popular attractions at Universal Orlando Resort. This extraordinary experience brings the Harry Potter books and films to life, making you feel like you're actually part of the incredible world of wizardry.
Even if you've never read the books or watched the films, you'll still have a fantastic time — though some bits might not make complete sense! That's why we've put together this jargon-buster to help you understand the special wizarding words, names and phrases a little better before you visit.
Acid Pops – sweets which burn holes in your tongue.
Albus Dumbledore – headmaster of Hogwarts School
Amortentia – the most powerful love potion in the world.
Apparate – to transport oneself to any location instantly
Auror – professional dark wizard catcher
Azkaban – a prison where dark wizards are sent
Borgin and Burkes – a dark arts shop in knockturn alley
Butterbeer™ – a frothy hot drink served in Hogsmeade
Centaurs – A mystical animal that is half-man, half-horse
Cornish Pixies – naughty pixies that create havoc
Daily Prophet – the national wizarding newspaper
Dark mark – the sign of death eaters – a skull with a serpent in its mouth
Death Eaters – followers of Voldemort
Dementor – a creature that feeds on the happy emotions of humans
Diagon Alley™ – a long cobbled street full of wizarding shops
Dobby – The name of the house elf in Harry Potter
Expectopatronum – A spell to guard against dementors
Extendable Ears – Apparatus that allows the user to eavesdrop on conversations from a distance.
Fawkes – Albus Dumbledores pet phoenix
Felix Felicis – liquid luck: this potion gives the drinker good fortune
Firebolt – The fastest, most advanced broomstick
Floo powder – powder that wizards use for travelling. Throw it into the fireplace; say the name of your destination and step into the flames.
Galleon Gold – wizarding money
Goblins – Small creatures with swarthy faces, pointed beards and very long hands and feet. Goblins staff Gringotts Bank.
Golden Snitch – A small, golden ball with silver wings used in the game of Quidditch. It must be caught by a Seeker to end the match.
Gringotts – The wizard bank in London, with vaults far below the streets, run by goblins.
He-who-must-not-be-named – The evil Lord Voldemort, Dark Wizard.
Hippogriff – Magical creature that has the front legs, wings and head of an eagle, and the body, hind legs and tail of a horse
Hogsmeade™ – The only completely magical village in Britain. Hogsmeade is not far from Hogwarts and has an array of wonderful shops including Honeydukes sweet shop, the Three Broomsticks pub and Zonko’s joke shop.
Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – The best school of its kind in the world. Hogwarts is in a secret location somewhere in the North of Britain.
Horcrux – An object in which a person has concealed part of their soul.
Howler – A wizarding letter which, when opened, shrieks and howls at the reader. Comes in a scarlet red envelope
Jinx – A spell cast to cause damage or other negative effect. Similar to a curse, but typically not as powerful or cast with such negative intention
Kelpie – A carnivorous, shape-shifting water creature
Leaky Cauldron – The Wizarding pub and boarding house through which witches and wizards gain access to Diagon Alley.
Marauders map – A map that shows all the secret passageways and the whereabouts of everyone in Hogwarts.
Ministry of Magic™ – Government agency that tries to regulate the wizarding co