Harry Potter·Disarming Charm
Expelliarmus
Forces an opponent to release what they are holding, often a wand.
Character / Caster: Harry Potter, Severus Snape
Continuity / Version: Harry Potter novels; Harry learns it during the Chamber of Secrets Duelling Club
Original illustration inspired by the spell’s fictional effect
AI-generated illustration · Spelling SpellsEvery letter matters
How to spell it
Exact spelling: Expelliarmus. Spaces and letter order are part of the entry.
One sound at a time
Pronunciation · Approximate
ex-PELL-ee-AR-muss
An English reader aid rather than an official phonetic transcription. Performances may vary.
An optional browser voice. Refer to the written guide and linked source for pronunciation.
The words behind the wonder
Meaning & use
Fictional Effect: Makes a target release a held object, commonly a wand, and gives a duellist a way to disarm an opponent.
A practical disarming charm associated with Harry’s duelling.
The official explanation gives the combined meaning “drive out a weapon”; no exact morpheme boundary is claimed here.
Where the word comes from
Language & etymology
Confirmed etymologyThe official guide describes a combination of Latin with the approximate sense of driving out a weapon.
Confirmed means a source identifies the origin. Suggested means an interpretation is plausible but is marked as such. Unconfirmed means an origin has not been established here.
Follow the story
Sources & references
Story / series: Harry Potter
One more page
Harry Potter · Spell
Lumos
LOO-mos · Approximate
Fictional Setting · Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore
Harry Potter novels; also depicted in the film adaptations
Produces a light at the wand tip that remains useful for exploring dark places until extinguished with Nox.
Harry Potter · Spell
Alohomora
uh-loh-huh-MOR-uh · Approximate
Fictional Setting · Hermione Granger
Harry Potter novels; the cited scene is from Philosopher’s Stone
Unlocks a locked door, allowing the caster to open it; the cited example is Hermione’s escape into the forbidden third-floor corridor.
Harry Potter · Spell
Wingardium Leviosa
win-GAR-dee-um leh-vee-OH-suh · Approximate
Fictional Setting · Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger
Harry Potter novels; the cited lesson is from Philosopher’s Stone
Raises an object into the air. Ron uses the charm on a mountain troll’s club after learning it in Professor Flitwick’s class.
