Incendio

Spell Name: Fire-Making Spell

Incantation: Incendio

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈsɛndi.oʊ/ in-SEN-dee-oh

Spell Branch: Charms

Magical Discipline(s): Curses

Appearance: Orange and red light.

Description: Produces fire. Flames burst out flying. The Fire-Making Spell, also known as the Fire-Making Charm (Incendio) is a charm that conjured a jet of flames that could be used to set things alight.

Taught in first and second year charms.

Regulations: Legal

Skill Level: Beginner

Etymology: In Latin, incendio is the dative or ablative singular of incendium, "fire", and can mean "to fire" or "for fire" (dative), "by fire" or "with fire" (ablative of instrument or means). Thus, the incantation is a way of calling upon fire to burn a desired object, since the spell caster wills harm to be done to an object "by (means of) fire." The magic word could also be a variant of the Latin incendo, "I set [something] on fire", with an "i" added before the final "o" for euphony. "Incendio" is the Spanish and Portuguese word for "wild fire". Also, in Italian, the word "Incendio" refers to a great fire similar to that one made by Thorfinn to Hagrid's house. "Incendio" is also the first person singular of the present of the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese verb "incendiar(e)", meaning "to set fire to".

References:

• It is first seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when Hagrid (nonverbally) produces fire out of his umbrella in the little house the Dursleys took refuge in (from the Hogwarts letters).
• In Half-Blood Prince, this spell is used several times in battle, for instance when Hagrid's hut is set ablaze.

Notes: See also Incendio Duo and Incendio Tria.