Magic word

Word or phrase said to cause magical events From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Magic word

Magic words are phrases used in fantasy fiction or by stage magicians. Frequently such words are presented as being part of a divine, adamic, or other secret or empowered language. Certain comic book heroes use magic words to activate their powers. Magic words are also used as Easter eggs or cheats in computer games, other software, and operating systems. (For example, the words xyzzy, plugh, and plover were magic words in the classic computer adventure game Colossal Cave Adventure. Please is colloquially referred to as the "magic word".)

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Classic magic words

Invocations of magic

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Examples of traditional and modern magic words include:[1]

  • Abracadabra – magic word used by magicians.
  • Ajji Majji la Tarajji – Iranian magic word (Persian).[citation needed]
  • Alakazam – a phrase used by magicians.[2]
  • Chhu Montor Chhu – a phrase used by magicians in Bangladesh.
  • Hocus pocus – a phrase used by magicians.
  • Jantar Mantar Jadu Mantar – a phrase used by magicians in India.
  • Čáry, máry, fuk – a Czech magic phrase.
  • Presto chango or Hey Presto – used by magicians (probably intended to suggest "quick change").[3]

Magic words in fiction

Craig Conley, a scholar of magic, writes that the magic words used by conjurers may originate from "pseudo-Latin phrases, nonsense syllables, or esoteric terms from religious antiquity", but that what they have in common is "language as an instrument of creation".[9]

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