Magic word
Magic words are generally nonsense words used by a magician to prepare the audience for an imminent magic trick. ("And now I say the magic words...")
Alternatively, a magic word may be used by a comic book hero to gain superhuman powers, or by a character in a legend or other story to cause something supernatural to happen.
Examples of magic words include:
- Abracadabra - prototypical magic word used by magicians
- Alakazam
- Hocus pocus - a phrase used by magicians (it can also refer to magic itself)
- Open sesame - used by the character Ali Baba in the English version of a tale from the collection popularly known as 1001 Arabian Nights (also used in a popular Bugs Bunny cartoon, "Ali Baba Bunny")
- Presto chango - used by magicians (probably intended to suggest "quick change")
- Shazam - used by the comic book hero Captain Marvel
Note that the television game show You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx in the 1950s, used the term secret word, not magic word. ("Say the secret word and win a prize!")
