# Magic word > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Magic_word > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Magic_word.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_word > Source revision: 1347817648 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Word or phrase said to cause magical events}} {{about|words used in stage magic|formulae used in ceremonial magic|magical formula|other uses|Magic word (disambiguation)}}{{Self reference|For magic words on Wikipedia, see Help:Magic words.}} thumb|The magic word ''abracadabra'' written in a triangle {{Magic sidebar}} '''Magic words''' are phrases used in [fantasy](/source/fantasy) fiction or by [stage magicians](/source/Magic_(illusion)). Frequently such words are presented as being part of a [divine](/source/Divine_language), [adamic](/source/Adamic_language), or other [secret](/source/Twilight_language) or [empowered](/source/Language_of_the_birds) [language](/source/language). Certain [comic book](/source/comic_book) heroes use magic words to activate their powers. 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".{{cite book|last=Conley|first=Craig|year=2008|title=Magic Words: A Dictionary|publisher=Weiser Books|page=18|isbn=9781609250508}} [Easter eggs](/source/Easter_egg_(media)) and [cheats](/source/Cheating_in_video_games) in computer games and other software can be seen as a form of magic word, and the word ''[please](/source/please)'' is sometimes described to children as "the magic word" for its important social effect. ==Invocations of magic== Examples of traditional and modern magic words include:{{Cite journal|last=Ramasami|first=Ponnadurai|date=September 2015|title=Perspectives of Virtual Conference on Computational Chemistry (VCCC-2014)|journal=Journal of Computational Science|volume=10|pages=155|doi=10.1016/j.jocs.2015.08.006|issn=1877-7503}} *''[Abracadabra](/source/Abracadabra)'' – magic word used by magicians. *''Ajji Majji la Tarajji'' – Iranian magic word (Persian).{{cn|date=December 2021}} *''Alakazam'' – a phrase used by magicians.{{Cite journal |last=Stibbe |first=Arran |date=2005 |title=ABRACADABRA, ALAKAZAM: Colonialism and the Discourse of Entertainment Magic |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41179134 |journal=Soundings: An Interdisciplinary Journal |volume=88 |issue=3/4 |pages=414–415 |jstor=41179134 |issn=0038-1861}} *''Chhu Montor Chhu'' – a phrase used by magicians in Bangladesh. *''[Hocus pocus](/source/Hocus_pocus_(magic))'' – a phrase used by magicians. *''Jantar Mantar Jadu Mantar'' – a phrase used by magicians in India. *''[Jiji ru lüling](/source/Jiji_ru_l%C3%BCling)'' – a standard [Taoist](/source/Taoist) magic phrase. *''Čáry, máry, fuk'' – a Czech magic phrase. *''Presto chango'' or ''Hey Presto'' – used by magicians (probably intended to suggest "quick change").{{cite web|url=http://www.magictricks.com/library/glossary.htm|title=Magic Glossary|author=Peter Monticup|work=magictricks.com}} ===Magic words in fiction=== *''Anál nathrach, orth’ bháis's bethad, do chél dénmha'' – used by [Merlin](/source/Merlin) as the Charm of Making in the 1981 film [Excalibur](/source/Excalibur_(film)). *''Ala Peanut Butter Sandwiches'' – used by [The Amazing Mumford](/source/The_Amazing_Mumford) on ''[Sesame Street](/source/Sesame_Street)''. *''Ananasakäämä'' - originally from the Finnish live-action comedy film [Pekka ja Pätkä sammakkomiehinä](/source/Pekka_ja_P%C3%A4tk%C3%A4_sammakkomiehin%C3%A4) ("[Pekka and Pätkä](/source/Pekka_and_P%C3%A4tk%C3%A4) as frogmen"), used later by magician {{ill|Timo Kulmakko|fi}} appearing as Timo Taikuri ("Timo Magician") on [Pikku Kakkonen](/source/Pikku_Kakkonen). *''Azarath Metrion Zinthos'', used by [Raven](/source/Raven_(DC_Comics)) in the [DC Comics](/source/DC_Comics) series [Teen Titans](/source/Teen_Titans), its [2003 TV series](/source/Teen_Titans_(TV_series)) and its cartoon spin-off ''[Teen Titans Go!](/source/Teen_Titans_Go!)''. *''[Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo](/source/Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo)'' – used by ''[Cinderella](/source/Cinderella_(1950_film))'''s Fairy Godmother.{{cite web|title=Magic Words: A Dictionary|url=http://www.mysteryarts.com/magic/words/Ed.3/?p=143|work=The Magician's Hidden Library|access-date=9 July 2012}} *''Boom Zahramay'', a saying used in the Nickelodeon preschool show ''[Shimmer and Shine](/source/Shimmer_and_Shine)''. *''By the Power of Grayskull, I HAVE THE POWER'' – used by the Prince Adam, of ''[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe](/source/He-Man_and_the_Masters_of_the_Universe)'', to transform him into He-Man.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7860384.stm|title= Panda director 'for He-Man movie'|access-date=30 July 2018 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |date= 2009-01-30}} *''Cei-u'' – used by the DC Comics superhero, [Johnny Thunder](/source/Johnny_Thunder_(superhero)), to summon [Thunderbolt](/source/Thunderbolt_(DC_Comics)). *''Fus Ro Dah'' – used as a shout by those with the Voice in the [Elder Scrolls](/source/Elder_Scrolls) video game series. *''Hex! Hex!'' – used by Bibi Blocksberg in the popular German children's audio drama series, called [Bibi Blocksberg](/source/Bibi_Blocksberg) and [Bibi and Tina](/source/Bibi_and_Tina). *''Ippity pippity pow'' - used by [Winsome Witch](/source/Winsome_Witch), a character from the Hanna-Barbera series [The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show](/source/The_Atom_Ant%2FSecret_Squirrel_Show). *''Izzy wizzy, let's get busy'' – Used on ''[The Sooty Show](/source/Sooty)'' when using Sooty's magic [wand](/source/wand). *''Jokeri pokeri box'' - "[Joker](/source/Joker_(playing_card)) [poker](/source/poker) [box](/source/box)", used by magician [Simo Aalto](/source/Simo_Aalto). *''Joshikazam'' – used by Josh Nichols, a character from the popular Nickelodeon show ''[Drake & Josh](/source/Drake_%26_Josh)''. *''[Klaatu barada nikto](/source/Klaatu_barada_nikto)'' – A phrase used in the 1951 film ''[The Day the Earth Stood Still](/source/The_Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still)''. While not intended as magical words in that film, they were used as such as a parody in ''[Army of Darkness](/source/Army_of_Darkness)''. *''Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho'' – Jambi on ''[Pee-wee's Playhouse](/source/Pee-wee's_Playhouse)''. *''Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse'' – used on the children's TV series ''[Mickey Mouse Clubhouse](/source/Mickey_Mouse_Clubhouse)'' to make the Clubhouse appear. *''Niat ingsun mateg aji semar ngising'' – used in the 1961 film ''[Ali Baba Bujang Lapok](/source/Ali_Baba_Bujang_Lapok)'' as an incantation to open a cave door. *''Oo ee oo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang'', phrase used in song "[Witch Doctor](/source/Witch_Doctor_(song))" performed by [Ross Bagdasarian Sr.](/source/Ross_Bagdasarian_Sr.), and released in 1958 by [Liberty Records](/source/Liberty_Records) under the [stage name](/source/stage_name) David Seville. *'' [Kulja Sim Sim](/source/Alibaba_Aur_40_Chor_(1954_film))'' – a Hindi and Urdu phrase popularized in 1956 Bollywood film "Alibaba Aur 40 Chor"{{Cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alibaba_Aur_40_Chor_(1954_film) |title=Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1954 film) - Wikipedia |website=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-09-20}}{{Circular reference|date=October 2023}} *''[Open sesame](/source/Open_Sesame_(phrase))'' – used by the character [Ali Baba](/source/Ali_Baba) in the English version of a tale from ''[One Thousand and One Nights](/source/One_Thousand_and_One_Nights)''.{{cite web |url=https://mdidea.com/products/new/new06704.html |title=Sesame: Origin, History, Etymology and Mythology |publisher=MDidea.com |date=2015-11-30 |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134833/https://mdidea.com/products/new/new06704.html |archive-date=25 January 2018 |url-status=dead }} *''Ostagazuzulum'' – used by the title character, [Wizbit](/source/Wizbit), in the British Children's TV series ''[Wizbit](/source/Wizbit)''.{{cite web |title=Paul Daniels' Wizbit returns to children's TV |date=27 May 2009 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5394161/Paul-Daniels-Wizbit-returns-to-childrens-TV.html |access-date=2023-06-28}} *''Rampung ngising semar tilem'' – used in the 1961 film ''[Ali Baba Bujang Lapok](/source/Ali_Baba_Bujang_Lapok)'' as an incantation to close a cave door. *''[Shazam](/source/Wizard_Shazam)'' – used by the comic book hero Billy Batson to change into [Captain Marvel](/source/Shazam_(DC_Comics)). *''Hey, [Shadow](/source/Shadow), remember who ''you'' are'' ({{langx|ru|Тень, знай своё место|Ten, znay svoyo mesto|Shadow, know your place}}) - an incantation used by a scientist in ''The Shadow'' to return his lost shadow, who became to live its own life, to its proper place. *''Schwan, kleb an!'' (literally "Swan, hold fast") - a spell used by the Youngest Brother in the tale "The Magic Swan" in the collection of Ludwig Bechstein. This spell made the people, who touched his magic swan, stick to the latter. *''Shimbaree, Shimbarah, Shimbaree, Shimbarah'' – used on the children's video and TV series ''[Barney and the Backyard Gang](/source/Barney_and_the_Backyard_Gang)'' and ''[Barney & Friends](/source/Barney_%26_Friends)''. *''[Sim Sala Bim](/source/Sim_Sala_Bim)'' – a phrase used by [Harry August Jansen](/source/Harry_August_Jansen) a.k.a. Dante The Magician, {{circa|1940}}. "Sim Sim Sala Bim" are the magic words said by [Hadji](/source/Hadji_(character)) on the shows ''[The Adventures of Jonny Quest](/source/The_Adventures_of_Jonny_Quest)'' and ''[The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest](/source/The_Real_Adventures_of_Jonny_Quest)''. The line was used by Oscar "Oz" Diggs in [Oz the Great and Powerful](/source/Oz_the_Great_and_Powerful). *''Suolaa, suolaa, enemmän suolaa'' - "Salt, salt, more salt", used by {{ill|Nils Hedengren|fi}} appearing as magician Faqir Kronblom on [Sirkus Papukaija](/source/Sirkus_Papukaija). *''Treguna Mekoides Trecorum Satis Dee'' – the spell for 'Substitutiary Locomotion' in the film ''[Bedknobs and Broomsticks](/source/Bedknobs_and_Broomsticks)''. *''Walla Walla Washington'' – [Bugs Bunny](/source/Bugs_Bunny) in ''[Looney Tunes](/source/Looney_Tunes)''. *''Wiggle Waggle'' – [Greg Page](/source/Greg_Page_(musician)) in ''[The Wiggles](/source/The_Wiggles)''. *''Yo Gabba Gabba'' – [DJ Lance Rock](/source/DJ_Lance_Rock) in ''[Yo Gabba Gabba!](/source/Yo_Gabba_Gabba!)''. *''Zotz'' – used by the professor character to make an ancient amulet perform deeds in ''[Zotz!](/source/Zotz!)''. ==See also== *{{anli|Barbarous name}} *[Incantation](/source/Incantation) *''[Kotodama](/source/Kotodama)'' *[Mantra](/source/Mantra) ==References== ==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Magic words}} Category:Magic words --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Magic word](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_word) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_word?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.