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Expelliarmus: exploring Harry Potter’s signature spell

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*Spoiler warnings should be heeded in this article.*

Roughly translated, Expelliarmus – the Disarming Charm – means ‘[to drive out a weapon](/features/the-etymology-of-harry-potter-spells "The etymology of Harry Potter spells")’ and that’s what it does: forces the subject to drop whatever they’re holding. Usually that’s a wand, which is why it’s often seen in duels, and Harry definitely took that to heart, given how much he used it in combat. Harry became so enamoured with the spell that he eventually used it to finish off Lord Voldemort. Here’s how Harry’s relationship with Expelliarmus became his signature – and why that’s a good and bad thing. 

## Snape taught the spell to Harry 

It was during [Professor Lockhart’s](/features/gilderoy-lockhart "Gilderoy Lockhart") short-lived Duelling Club that Harry learned the spell that would define him. Not from Lockhart (of course) but from [Snape](/features/severus-snape "Severus Snape"). In the second year, we knew Snape as the bad-tempered [Potions](/writing-by-jk-rowling/potions "Potions by J.K. Rowling") Master who supposedly hated Harry, but it’s interesting to think it was this brave former follower of Voldemort who taught Harry the spell that toppled the Dark Lord.

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Lochart attempts to curse the snake that Snape has conjured.

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## Learning Expelliarmus

Spells are tricky things. Harry took a while to get to grips with the Summoning Charm he used in the first Triwizard task and even Hermione struggled with her Patronus. So the fact that Harry quickly developed an aptitude for Expelliarmus could explain why he was confident enough to use it in challenging situations. Within months of learning it, Harry used Expelliarmus to get Riddle’s diary back from Malfoy and to disarm Lockhart, plus he spent the final hours of second year practicing it, getting very good in the process.

Harry also successfully used Expelliarmus when he disarmed Snape in the Shrieking Shack and when he made a giant spider release him during the third Triwizard task, but it wasn’t until he turned it against Voldemort that it started to become associated with him – and that, as Lupin later implied, was where the danger lay.

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The empty bedroom of the Shrieking Shack 

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## Disarming Voldemort

When Harry took Hermione and Ron to task over the offhand way they listed all the times he’d defeated Voldemort, he told them:

> ‘I got through it all because – because help came at the right time, or because I guessed right – but I just blundered through it all, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing…’ 
<br> *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* </br>

That moment in the graveyard was a case in point. As Voldemort forced Harry to duel, he remembered Expelliarmus. Surrounded by Death Eaters, with Voldemort prepared to kill him, he was aware a Disarming Charm wasn’t going to get him very far and yet it was all he had – that, and a refusal to die without at least trying to defend himself.

As it happened, he guessed right, although since he didn’t actually manage to disarm Voldemort that was actually more to do with Priori Incantatem. Still, to put it in Harry’s words, he blundered through, aided by the shadowy echoes of Voldemort's victims.

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## ‘Your signature move’

The outcome of that scene may not have been to Voldemort’s liking, but he and his Death Eaters did witness Harry attempt to fight by Disarming and not Stunning. This came back to bite Harry, when he used Expelliarmus on an Imperiused Stan Shunpike during the Battle of the Seven Potters and inadvertently revealed himself. Lupin berated him for it:

> ‘Expelliarmus is a useful spell, Harry, but the Death Eaters seem to think it is your signature move, and I urge you not to let it become so!’ 
<br> *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* </br>

It seems at least partly the case that Harry fell back on Expelliarmus because he’d used it to defeat Voldemort before – although he didn’t really, given the spell didn’t work. Still, that’s what he told Zacharias Smith when he sneered at Harry’s decision to teach the D.A. how to Disarm, and that’s what he told Lupin in defence of his actions against Stan: it saved him, so why wouldn’t it save others?

But it’s not the whole story. Harry might be confident with Expelliarmus; he might have an overdeveloped faith in it that makes him predictable – Lupin certainly thought so – but by this point it had also become as symbolic as it was practical.

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## Defeating Voldemort

As Harry told Lupin, if he’d Stunned Stan Shunpike as they were flying hundreds of feet above ground, ‘He’d have died the same as if I’d used Avada Kedavra!’

That’s what makes the difference. Disarming is about defence, not murder. Voldemort was a killer, Harry was not. It was an important distinction for Harry, who had learned so much about Voldemort and seen first-hand the ways in which they were similar. So while Lupin had a point, it’s a difference Harry owned: ‘I won’t blast people out of my way just because they’re there… that’s Voldemort’s job.’

In the final battle, Harry used his signature spell with defiance. This time he was more experienced but in some ways he was still guessing, with his assumptions about the Elder Wand. Still, when he shouted, ‘Expelliarmus!’ as Voldemort screamed, ‘Avada Kedavra!’ he was giving all those around him the message he gave Lupin: this was about ending bloodshed, not creating it.

Voldemort’s signature spell was Avada Kedavra. Harry’s was Expelliarmus. We know which we prefer.

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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What reminds you of the Wizarding World in your day-to-day life?

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## Treacle tart

Harry Potter’s favourite dessert always reminds us of feasts in the Great Hall. Not only did Harry eat it on his first-ever night at Hogwarts, but don’t you think the two words – particularly starting with the same letter – have that signature wizarding foodie feel about them? Think about Fudge Flies, Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, Ton-Tongue Toffee, Cockroach Clusters (well maybe not them) – and you’ll see what we mean.

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## King’s Cross station

We don’t know about you, but every time we take the train from King’s Cross, we feel a little jolt of excitement, especially if our train is called for platform nine or ten. We like to imagine turning up there on the first of September and boarding that famous scarlet steam engine for Hogwarts. Come on, we know some of you have tried to push that trolley through the barrier too…


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## Brown leather suitcases

You can thank famous Magizoologist Newt Scamander for this one. Every time we see someone holding a suitcase like Newt’s, we can’t stop ourselves thinking about the fantastic beasts Newt kept in his magical one. We’d swap our own boring bags for a creature-filled valise any day of the week.

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Newt Scamander sits on a bed with his magical suitcase

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## Trolleys on trains

‘Anything off the trolley, dears?’ They’re quite rare on trains nowadays, but you can bet we – and any other Harry Potter fans in the vicinity – will have a silly grin on our faces whenever there’s a food and drinks trolley rolling into our carriage. You can be sure we’re still disappointed that they don’t stock Chocolate Frogs – we’d even take a Cockroach Cluster.

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## Redheads

A red-headed woman walks in front of you. For a split-second, you think: Ginny Weasley? Molly Weasley? Maybe even Lily Potter? And flame-haired boys, don’t even get us started with them – so many Weasley brothers to mistake them for! If we saw two red-headed twins, we’d barely stop ourselves asking them the way to Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. 


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## Woolly hats

After Hermione’s persistent knitting of woolly hats in honour of S.P.E.W., winter is a time we can’t go five minutes without being reminded of the Wizarding World. Not only do we fondly recall Dobby’s wearing of multiple hats at once, but we chuckle at Ron’s comment that Hermione’s knitted hats looked like ‘woolly bladders’. He might have had a point; you just can’t un-see it. 

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## Mistletoe

‘It’s probably full of Nargles, though’. Mistletoe will be forever changed for us because of Luna Lovegood – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  Who doesn’t want to be reminded of her kind and wacky ways? It also makes us think of a certain kiss between Harry and Cho. Mistletoe really does make Christmas even more magical for Wizarding World fans. 


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## Libraries

Libraries have always been magical places – you can join them for FREE and then you can borrow books for NOTHING! Does it get any better than that? Hermione certainly doesn’t think so. And there we go again..! Libraries and the wizarding world are inextricably linked through our favourite Hogwarts brainbox. Whenever we run our hands along a bookshelf, we imagine the smell of parchment, Madam Pince watching our every move, or – in the case of The Monster Book of Monsters – a particular volume trying to bite our fingers off.


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## Drills

Although we’re not particular fans of Uncle Vernon, whenever anyone mentions drills, we find ourselves thinking of his firm, Grunnings, which – you guessed it – sold drills. We never found out much about Grunnings or what a day in the working life of Vernon Dursley looked like (thank goodness) – but those drills clearly made a lasting impression. 


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## Sherbet lemons

Professor Dumbledore offered Professor McGonagall a sherbet lemon the very first time we met them in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. She refused it, of course. But the wise headmaster clearly had a liking for them; he even used ‘sherbet lemon’ as a password for his office at Hogwarts. It’s no surprise then that the sherbet lemon is our go-to choice on any sweetshop visit.

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Dumbledore sitting in a chair from the Half Blood Prince 

The etymology of Harry Potter spells

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Hermione holding up her wand from the Chamber of Secrets 

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Harry Potter is a world of strange and magical language, filled with words that sound alien and new, but in fact have their roots in the real world. Spells are no exception, with the origins of many incantations harking back to Latin terms and phrases; some spells translate pretty directly, while others have been carefully crafted and assembled from fragments of other languages. It’s a fascinating example of how language changes and evolves, so here’s a look at five of our favourite stories behind some of the wizarding world’s most famous spells… 

## The Patronus Charm 

Expecto Patronum, the spell that conjured up Harry’s magnificent stag Patronus, roughly translates into ‘I expect (or await) a guardian’ in Latin, which is apt. The actual result of the spell, the Patronus itself, has an even more interesting history. In Ancient Rome, the word ‘patronus’ meant protector, too, but with very different connotations. A patronus in Ancient Rome was someone of a high class who had a ‘patronage’ relationship with a client, who would usually be less rich, or lower class. In turn, the word ’patronage’ most likely came from the term ‘Pater’, which means ‘father’ in Latin. In whatever time, in whatever form, the word ‘patronus’ always relates to protection.

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Harry casts his Patronus while in disguise at the Minstry.

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## Petrificus Totalus

The Body-Binding spell is heavily influenced by Latin, as you may have guessed from its very Latin-sounding name. However, there are dashes of Ancient Greek in this incantation too. First, we have ‘Petra’, which is derived from ‘petros’, which means ‘rock’ in Greek. ‘Ficus’ is a Latin suffix which denotes ‘making’ or ‘doing’ something. ‘Totalus’ is a loose reworking of ‘totalis’, which, once again, is Latin, meaning ‘total’ or ‘entire’. So roughly speaking, ‘Petrificus Totalus’ translates to ‘Make rock totally’, which we’re sure victims of the curse, such as Neville Longbottom, <em>totally</em> understood all too well.

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Neville falls victim to Hermione's Petrificus Totalus spell

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## Expelliarmus

Expelliarmus is one of the most-used spells across all seven Harry Potter books, to the extent that Harry was known by the Death Eaters for using it during *Deathly Hallows*. We’ve seen the word so many times, but how did it come together? 

‘Expel’ harks back to 1300s Middle English, where two Latin terms were combined to create it. ‘Ex’ means ‘out’ and ‘pellere’ means ‘to drive’, which finally formed the word ‘expel’. Its definition in basic terms means to ‘drive out’. ‘Armus’, as you may expect, is indeed Latin for a similar sounding part of the body: the arm, or specifically the shoulder joint. In time, the term ‘arm’ took on combat meaning (such as, to ‘arm’ yourself with a wand) with the Latin term ‘arma’, meaning weapon. Piecing the syllables back together, we have a rough translation of the phrase ‘drive out weapon’ – which is precisely what Expelliarmus does.

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Lord Voldemort is killed by his own rebounding spell in a battle against Harry in the great hall from the Deathly Hallows. 

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## Lumos and Nox

  Sister spells Lumos and Nox give light and take it away, respectively. Lumos could well come from the 19th-century Latin word ‘lumen’, which simply means ‘light’. Adding the Latin suffix ‘os’ means to ‘have something’: to have light, in this instance. Nox is Latin for ‘night’, but is also rooted in Greek mythology. ‘Nyx’, closely related to ‘Nox’, is the name for the Greek goddess of night: a feared, shadowy figure who was known as a powerful force, and even intimidated the mighty Zeus.

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Dumbledore and Harry use Lumos inside the Horcrux cave

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## Sectumsempra

A word dominated by the letter S was related to a man with a similar example of sibilance in his own name – Mr Severus Snape. But surely Snape must have had more inspiration than that for such a complex spell name with such deadly intentions? Digging deeper, we can see that Snape was fond of Latin too, seeing as the first half of his self-made curse, ‘sectum’, is Latin for ‘having been cut’: an interesting choice for a man who has the word ‘sever’ in his own name.

The second part of the word, however, is fascinating. Because although ‘sempra’ isn’t a Latin word, it is very close to the word ‘semper’, which was known in the Latin phrase ‘semper fidelis’. This becomes a particularly big deal once you realise what it means: ‘<em>always</em> loyal’. Pretty perfect, don't you think?

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Snape telling Harry to be quiet at the Tallest Tower 

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Bloomsbury celebrate 25th anniversary of Philosopher’s Stone with special edition book and asking fans their top memories 

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__Image © Bloomsbury, Aashfaria A. Anwar__

We’re sure UK-based Harry Potter fans remember the first book well – that big scarlet train, Harry’s inquisitive face... and now, you can revisit it, 25 years on, with this special version produced by Bloomsbury, with some additional features, such as drawings from J.K. Rowling’s archive and the original iconic cover art by Thomas Taylor. 

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You can learn more about this [edition from Bloomsbury here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/linkout?destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomsbury.com/uk/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone--25th-anniversary-edition-9781526646651/)

Bloomsbury also asked a selection of fans to dig into their Pensieves and extract their early memories of the first book, some of which you can watch below. 


25th anniversary | Bloomsbury ask fans for their favourite Harry Potter memories 

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In the video, we meet fans such as Ben, who learnt to ‘accept yourself, love yourself’ from the books. Charlotte talks about her dyslexia growing up but says that Harry Potter helped her get through it. “That book opened up a relationship for me with literature. I will forever be grateful for the accessibility the Harry Potter books offered me,” she says. 

Bloomsbury also chatted to fans like Catie, who reminisced about “struggling to fit in at school because I was more interested in books and knowledge than sport”, while Amy told a moving tale about finding the books after falling behind at school after heart surgery. “I had never read a full book before (outside of school) and the thought of reading was daunting. But I decided to give it a go. I slowly read the 1st book, which took me about 3 months (my reading and writing was still very behind back then) but I loved every word.”

Inspired, we also decided to take a little trip down memory lane and asked our followers for some of their memories too. We just simply can’t have enough of your stories! 

Susan on Facebook picked a favourite moment we’re sure you can relate to: “I was hooked from the first page but my favourite part is when Hagrid blasts the door open on that island shack, tells Harry he is a wizard and tells Dursley to go stuff it. Then off they go in that row-boat to the start of Harry's amazing new life.”

Laura on Instagram said: “I picked up my copy from a school car boot sale wen the third book had just been released and I got hooked on the magic. I found out years later this was a first edition.” 

Vale on Twitter said: “I was 7 years old when I found *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* under the Christmas tree. I read it during holidays, and I was so into it that I played scenes with my sister. We used what we had for costumes and props (magic wands were straws wrapped in aluminium paper.”

25 years on, and people still remember the exact moment they entered the wizarding world. Here’s to a very special silver anniversary – and onwards to the next! 

__Please note: the answers to this article have been edited for spelling/grammar/clarity.__

Pottermore Publishing and Ximalaya release the first Chinese versions of the Harry Potter audiobooks

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A colourful illustration of Harry Potter on platform nine and three-quarters looking happily at the Hogwarts Express. Ron and Hermione are in the distance with their trollies. The Sorting Hat, wizard chess board and flying key all feature.

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Pottermore Publishing have collaborated with one of the world’s largest audiobook platforms, Shanghai-based Ximalaya, to create the first ever Chinese recordings of the Harry Potter stories. All seven books are set to be released starting with *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*, which was launched in full on the 21st June 2022, with the rest of the books set to follow in daily, episodic instalments.

Excitingly, these new audiobooks are the first time that the Harry Potter stories have been recorded with sound effects and a specially commissioned musical score. And if that’s not enough, these new versions, created by the critically acclaimed Voice Gem studio in Beijing, feature three voice actors that help to bring the stories to life. With a narrator and one voice actor each for the male and female characters, these are set to be dynamic retellings of these beloved books. 

This new project wouldn’t be complete without some stunning artwork either. Design house Daxi have risen to the challenge and created fantastic new jackets for each of the audiobooks. These illustrations have not only incorporated beautiful and traditional Chinese artistic principles but have also stayed true to the stories – as demonstrated in our sneak peek below.

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As you can see, the artwork for *Philosopher’s Stone* includes the iconic Hogwarts Express, the golden trio as well as nods to key details within the book. From flying keys to wizard chess, to the Sorting Hat – there is no doubt that this cover has managed to capture the magic of the first story while maintaining a unique and innovative charm. 

It’s set to be an exciting time for Harry Potter fans in China! Following the release of the audiobook version of *Philosopher’s Stone*, fans can expect the immersive magic to continue with the rest of the stories until early spring 2023. 

Pottermore Publishing reveals newly designed digital Harry Potter covers 

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Bringing both iconic and lesser-known scenes from these beloved stories alive in thrilling detail for fans and new readers alike, the new cover art invites the next generation of readers and listeners to jump into the action and discover the Harry Potter books on their phones, tablets, e-readers and other devices.

The new covers, as created by design team Studio La Plage, bring to vivid colour scenes from the books, some never before depicted such as Harry’s Great Lake task in Goblet of Fire, as well as giving new perspectives on iconic moments such as Harry’s first Quidditch match.

Take a closer look at the covers right here.  

## Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

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Harry truly seems at his happiest when he plays Quidditch,  as we can see here in this vivid interpretation of his match against Slytherin. The use of strong reds in this image bring out the vibrancy of the wizard sport, not to mention a nod to Harry’s Gryffindor house colours.

## Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 


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In the second installment, Harry and Ron find themselves in a precarious situation – trapped in a flying car that just so happens to have crashed into the most dangerous tree at Hogwarts, the Whomping Willow. The luminous night sky complements the blue of Arthur Weasley’s beloved Muggle vehicle here, while the scene is lit up by both the car’s headlights and the lights of Hogwarts and Hagrid’s Hut. 

## Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  


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Bathed in swathes of purple, the third Harry Potter book cover focuses on the Knight Bus sequence, where Harry is forced to make a snap decision to escape the Dursleys after blowing up his Aunt Marge. Thankfully, a convenient triple-decker bus was on hand to pick him up. As the books begin to exhibit darker themes in this instalment, this cover evokes a sense of danger, with Harry on the run and Hedwig by his side.

## Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 


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The fourth Harry Potter book plunges to depths of the wizarding world we haven’t seen before. Quite literally, in the case of this cover, which shows Harry underwater, braving Hogwarts’ Great Lake. The scene is taken from the Triwizard Tournament, which serves as the main vein of this book’s plot – focusing on Harry’s second task as a reluctant Hogwarts champion. The mysterious greens and blues of this cover encapsulate the enigmatic atmosphere of Harry’s underwater mission. And eagle-eyed Harry Potter fans may spot some fun details in the background! 

## Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

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In this cover, it is not Harry that takes the focus, but his best friend Hermione, confronting Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Mysteries. The scene, in which Harry and his friends strive to find the Prophecy that spells his future, turns into chaos when Voldemort’s followers confront them. Note the ethereal nature of the prophecy orbs and Hermione, mid-curse, with her wand glowing dangerously red. 

## Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 

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In the sixth book, it could only be Albus Dumbledore who takes centre-stage. This emotional moment, where Harry and his mentor venture into a desolate cave of horrors, is depicted here with ominous green tones, lit up by a mysterious potion that Dumbledore must drink to uncover an extremely important item in the quest to defeat Voldemort. 

## Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 


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And finally, everything comes crashing together in this final, eventful cover, representing Harry’s final battle with Lord Voldemort. Its setting in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, the very location where Harry began his life as a wizard, brings the story full circle, as Harry must be braver than he has ever been before. The urgent, swirling strokes of colour that envelop this scene perfectly capture this clash of foes. 

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Stay tuned for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how the new covers were created with an interview with the team behind the project. Coming to WizardingWorld.com very soon. 