"Avada Kedavra" - an unforgivable spell

If you read a series of books and watched movies about Harry Potter, you probably heard about such a spell as "Awada Kedavra." But do you know what kind of spell it is and how it differs from others? What is his translation? No? Then we'll 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, perhaps, with general information about this spell. It refers to the unforgivable and officially banned by the Ministry of Magic. Its use instantly kills a person. There is not a single counter-spell to him, so his action is irreversible. The only survivor after his 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 be immediately sent to Azkaban until the end of his days. Therefore, few people decide to apply it. The exception is Lord Volan de Mort and his henchmen, who prefer to kill their enemies with this spell.

Value and translation

There is no unanimous opinion about the meaning and translation of this spell. Many Harry Potter fans are looking for an answer to this question.

For the sake of interest, we tried to use the dictionaries of the Latin language, looking for the phrase "Avada Kedavra" in them. Translation of this phrase, as well as single 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 truthful and worthy of attention. Some sources say that from the Aramaic language this phrase is translated as "I kill with a word". As an option, there is also the translation "I kill with my word".

Also there is an opinion that the text of this spell and its name was and at all invented by Joan Rowling by analogy with the famous phrase "Abracadabra". But there is no confirmation of this theory.

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

Mentions in the book

So, we have tried to parse the etymology of the spell "Awada Kedavra", which means, we found out. Now let's remember when this expression was mentioned in the book about Harry Potter.

With a lethal spell, the author begins to introduce us in the 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 actions.

With the spell itself, we are already acquainted in the fourth book - "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." About him tells Professor Moody in the lesson of protection from the dark arts. It is in this part that we learn not only that "Awada Kedavra" is one of the three unforgivable spells, but we also become acquainted with 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, Owl Buckle, and many other characters in the book.

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

Other unforgivable spells

In the world of Potteriana there are only three dark unforgivable spells, the use of which threatens a life imprisonment in Azkaban. We have already considered one of them - "Awada Kedavra", let's now briefly discuss the other two.

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

The second is "Imperius" ("Imperio"), from Latin it is translated as "I command", "I order". This spell suppresses the will and subjugates the person. Being under his influence, the victim fulfills all the orders that the wizard who imposed it gives.

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

All three spells have several common features. First of all, as already mentioned, they are all unforgivable. Secondly, they were one of the favorite spells of Volan de Mort and all those who served him. In addition, it is with them that are associated with the loudest and most terrible crimes described in the series of Harry Potter novels.