Learning a new word in another language is like discovering a small piece of magic. When you want to talk about “magic” in French, knowing the right words can help you communicate your ideas clearly. French has beautiful and descriptive ways to express this idea, making conversations more colorful and fun.
In this article, you’ll learn how to say “magic” in French, explore other related expressions, and practice using them in sentences. By the end, you’ll be able to confidently use these words in real-life conversations. Whether you’re talking about a magician’s tricks or the magic of a special moment, these words will come in handy. Let’s get started!
Ways to Say Magic in French
French has several ways to express the concept of “magic.” Whether you’re referring to a magician’s trick, a magical feeling, or a fantasy setting, these terms will help you communicate effectively. Below are different words and phrases to say “magic” in French, along with their pronunciation, meanings, and examples to use them in real-life conversations.
1. Magie
Pronunciation: mah-zhee
Meaning: Magic, often used to describe supernatural or enchanting phenomena.
In a Sentence:
- La magie du spectacle était incroyable. (The magic of the show was incredible.)
- J’aime lire des histoires pleines de magie. (I love reading stories full of magic.)
2. Enchantement
Pronunciation: ahn-shan-teh-mahn
Meaning: Enchantment, often referring to magical spells or charm.
In a Sentence:
- L’enchantement de la forêt est fascinant. (The enchantment of the forest is fascinating.)
- Cet endroit est rempli d’un enchantement spécial. (This place is filled with a special enchantment.)
3. Féerie
Pronunciation: fay-uh-ree
Meaning: Fairy-like magic or a fantastical atmosphere.
In a Sentence:
- Le jardin semblait sortir d’une féerie. (The garden seemed straight out of a fairy tale.)
- La féerie des lumières rend la ville magnifique. (The fairy-like magic of the lights makes the city beautiful.)
4. Sortilège
Pronunciation: sor-tee-lehj
Meaning: A spell or magical charm, often used in fantasy contexts.
In a Sentence:
- Le sorcier a jeté un sortilège puissant. (The wizard cast a powerful spell.)
- Elle est tombée sous le sortilège du magicien. (She fell under the magician’s spell.)
5. Miracle
Pronunciation: mee-rah-kl
Meaning: Miracle, used for magical or extraordinary events.
In a Sentence:
- C’était un miracle que tout ait fonctionné. (It was a miracle that everything worked out.)
- Le coucher de soleil était un véritable miracle de la nature. (The sunset was a true miracle of nature.)
6. Charme
Pronunciation: sharm
Meaning: Charm, often associated with magic or enchanting qualities.
In a Sentence:
- Ce bracelet porte bonheur est censé avoir un charme magique. (This lucky bracelet is said to have a magical charm.)
- Le charme de cet endroit est inoubliable. (The charm of this place is unforgettable.)
7. Illusion
Pronunciation: ee-loo-zhawn
Meaning: Illusion, often used in magical performances.
In a Sentence:
- L’illusion du magicien a étonné tout le monde. (The magician’s illusion amazed everyone.)
- C’était une illusion parfaite; personne n’a vu le truc. (It was a perfect illusion; no one saw the trick.)
8. Fantastique
Pronunciation: fawn-tas-teek
Meaning: Fantastic or magical in a broad sense.
In a Sentence:
- Le film est rempli d’aventures fantastiques et de magie. (The movie is full of fantastic adventures and magic.)
- J’adore les histoires avec des créatures fantastiques. (I love stories with fantastic creatures.)
9. Prestidigitation
Pronunciation: pres-tee-dee-zhee-ta-syawn
Meaning: Sleight of hand or magical tricks.
In a Sentence:
- La prestidigitation du magicien a captivé le public. (The magician’s sleight of hand captivated the audience.)
- J’ai assisté à un atelier de prestidigitation pour apprendre quelques tours. (I attended a magic workshop to learn some tricks.)
10. Abracadabra
Pronunciation: ah-brah-kah-dah-brah
Meaning: A classic magical incantation.
In a Sentence:
- Il a dit « Abracadabra » et la pièce a disparu. (He said “Abracadabra” and the coin disappeared.)
- Les enfants adorent crier « Abracadabra » en jouant. (The kids love shouting “Abracadabra” while playing.)
11. Ensorcellement
Pronunciation: ahn-sor-sell-mahn
Meaning: Bewitchment or spellbinding.
In a Sentence:
- L’ensorcellement de la forêt l’a captivée. (The bewitchment of the forest captivated her.)
- Cet ensorcellement a duré toute la nuit. (This spellbinding lasted all night.)
12. Féerie
Pronunciation: fay-eh-ree
Meaning: Fairyland or magical spectacle.
In a Sentence:
- La féerie de Noël est toujours spectaculaire ici. (The magic of Christmas is always spectacular here.)
- Ce film est une féerie visuelle. (This movie is a visual fairyland.)
13. Illusion
Pronunciation: eel-loo-zyawn
Meaning: Illusion or magic trick.
In a Sentence:
- Le magicien a créé une illusion parfaite. (The magician created a perfect illusion.)
- Cette illusion a laissé le public sans voix. (This illusion left the audience speechless.)
14. Mystère
Pronunciation: mee-stair
Meaning: Mystery or magical allure.
In a Sentence:
- Le mystère de la lune est fascinant. (The mystery of the moon is fascinating.)
- Il y avait un mystère magique dans ses yeux. (There was a magical mystery in her eyes.)
15. Sort
Pronunciation: sor
Meaning: Spell or fate.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a jeté un sort sur la rivière. (She cast a spell on the river.)
- Le sort de l’histoire est entre vos mains. (The fate of the story is in your hands.)
16. Alchimie
Pronunciation: al-shee-mee
Meaning: Alchemy or magical chemistry.
In a Sentence:
- L’alchimie entre eux est magique. (The chemistry between them is magical.)
- Il rêve de découvrir les secrets de l’alchimie. (He dreams of uncovering the secrets of alchemy.)
17. Charme
Pronunciation: shar-m
Meaning: Charm or magic allure.
In a Sentence:
- Le charme de ce village est inoubliable. (The charm of this village is unforgettable.)
- Elle a utilisé un charme pour ouvrir la porte. (She used a charm to open the door.)
18. Magiciennerie
Pronunciation: mah-zhee-see-en-ree
Meaning: Wizardry or magical tricks.
In a Sentence:
- La magiciennerie de ce spectacle est impressionnante. (The wizardry in this show is impressive.)
- Il adore apprendre la magiciennerie. (He loves learning wizardry.)
19. Prestidigitation
Pronunciation: pres-tee-dee-zhee-tah-syawn
Meaning: Sleight of hand or magic trick.
In a Sentence:
- Sa prestidigitation a étonné tout le monde. (His sleight of hand amazed everyone.)
- La prestidigitation est un art difficile à maîtriser. (Sleight of hand is a difficult art to master.)
20. Divination
Pronunciation: dee-vee-nah-syawn
Meaning: Divination or fortune-telling.
In a Sentence:
- La divination est une forme ancienne de magie. (Divination is an ancient form of magic.)
- Elle a étudié la divination dans un vieux grimoire. (She studied divination in an old spellbook.)
21. Rêverie
Pronunciation: ray-vuh-ree
Meaning: Daydream or magical fantasy.
In a Sentence:
- Une douce rêverie l’a emportée dans un monde magique. (A sweet daydream took her to a magical world.)
- Ce moment semblait sorti d’une rêverie. (That moment felt like a magical fantasy.)
22. Prodige
Pronunciation: proh-deezh
Meaning: Marvel or magical wonder.
In a Sentence:
- Ce prodige scientifique semble presque magique. (This scientific marvel seems almost magical.)
- Les prodiges de la nature sont fascinants. (Nature’s wonders are fascinating.)
23. Fantasmagorie
Pronunciation: fan-taz-mah-go-ree
Meaning: Phantasmagoria or magical illusions.
In a Sentence:
- La fantasmagorie du théâtre était époustouflante. (The phantasmagoria of the theater was breathtaking.)
- Cette histoire est une fantasmagorie captivante. (This story is a captivating phantasmagoria.)
24. Marvel
Pronunciation: mar-vel
Meaning: Miracle or magical wonder.
In a Sentence:
- C’était un véritable marvel de technologie. (It was a true marvel of technology.)
- Ce paysage est un marvel de beauté naturelle. (This landscape is a marvel of natural beauty.)
25. Émerveillement
Pronunciation: eh-may-vay-yuh-mahn
Meaning: Wonder or sense of magic.
In a Sentence:
- L’émerveillement des enfants était palpable. (The children’s wonder was palpable.)
- Chaque nouvelle découverte apporte un émerveillement magique. (Each new discovery brings magical wonder.)
Other Ways to Say “Magic” in French
Below is a table of additional ways to say “magic” in French. Each term has a unique context, pronunciation, meaning, and examples to help you understand how it’s used.
Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
Mystique | mee-steek | Mystical or magical | Ce lieu a une ambiance mystique. (This place has a mystical atmosphere.) |
Fascination | fah-see-nah-syawn | Fascination or enchantment | La fascination pour la magie est universelle. (The fascination with magic is universal.) |
Miracle | mee-rah-kl | Miracle or magical event | Ce succès est un véritable miracle. (This success is a true miracle.) |
Merveille | mehr-veh-yuh | Wonder or marvel | Ce château est une merveille de l’architecture. (This castle is a marvel of architecture.) |
Surnaturel | sur-nah-tew-rehl | Supernatural | Les histoires de fantômes relèvent du surnaturel. (Ghost stories are part of the supernatural.) |
Illumination | ee-loo-mee-nah-syawn | Spiritual enlightenment | L’illumination qu’elle ressentait était presque magique. (The enlightenment she felt was almost magical.) |
Féérique | fay-ay-reek | Fairy-like or magical | Le jardin féérique a enchanté les visiteurs. (The fairy-like garden enchanted the visitors.) |
Envoûtement | ahn-voo-teh-mahn | Spellbinding | Son envoûtement par la musique était évident. (Her spellbinding by the music was obvious.) |
Phénomène | fay-noh-mehn | Phenomenon | Ce phénomène naturel est digne de la magie. (This natural phenomenon is worthy of magic.) |
Éclat | ay-klah | Spark or magical brilliance | L’éclat de la lumière ressemblait à un sort. (The brilliance of the light resembled a spell.) |
Sortilège | sor-tee-lehzh | Spell or charm | Le vieux livre était rempli de sortilèges anciens. (The old book was full of ancient spells.) |
Miracleux | mee-rah-kuh-leuh | Miraculous or magical | Sa guérison était miraculeuse. (Her recovery was miraculous.) |
Fantaisie | fahn-tah-zee | Fantasy | J’adore les contes remplis de fantaisie. (I love tales full of fantasy.) |
Apparition | ah-par-ree-syawn | Appearance (magical context) | L’apparition soudaine du magicien a surpris tout le monde. (The magician’s sudden appearance surprised everyone.) |
Félicité | fay-lee-see-tay | Bliss or magical happiness | Leur mariage était un moment de félicité. (Their wedding was a moment of bliss.) |
Clarté | klar-tay | Clarity or magical insight | La clarté de ses pensées semblait magique. (The clarity of her thoughts seemed magical.) |
Aura | oh-rah | Aura or magical presence | L’aura mystérieuse de la forêt était fascinante. (The mysterious aura of the forest was fascinating.) |
Responses to “Magic” in French
When someone talks about magic in French, you might want to respond in ways that show interest, agreement, or curiosity. Here are some common responses you can use, with pronunciation, meaning, and examples. These responses help keep the conversation flowing naturally.
1. C’est fascinant
Pronunciation: say fah-see-nah
Meaning: That’s fascinating.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: La magie rend tout plus intéressant. (Magic makes everything more interesting.)
Person 2: C’est fascinant! (That’s fascinating!)
2. J’adore ça
Pronunciation: zhah-dor sah
Meaning: I love it.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ce magicien est incroyable. (This magician is incredible.)
Person 2: Oui, j’adore ça! (Yes, I love it!)
3. Quelle merveille
Pronunciation: kel mehr-vey
Meaning: What a wonder.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Regarde ce tour de magie! (Look at this magic trick!)
Person 2: Quelle merveille! (What a wonder!)
4. C’est incroyable
Pronunciation: say ahn-krwah-yah-bluh
Meaning: That’s incredible.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: La magie peut vraiment surprendre. (Magic can really surprise.)
Person 2: Oui, c’est incroyable. (Yes, that’s incredible.)
5. Trop cool
Pronunciation: troh kool
Meaning: So cool.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’ai appris un nouveau tour de magie. (I learned a new magic trick.)
Person 2: Trop cool! (So cool!)
6. Vraiment magique
Pronunciation: vray-mahn mah-zheek
Meaning: Truly magical.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Cette soirée a une ambiance magique. (This evening has a magical atmosphere.)
Person 2: Oui, c’est vraiment magique. (Yes, it’s truly magical.)
7. Impressionnant
Pronunciation: ahn-preh-syoh-nahn
Meaning: Impressive.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Le magicien a fait disparaître un objet. (The magician made an object disappear.)
Person 2: Impressionnant! (Impressive!)
8. Un vrai prodige
Pronunciation: uh-vray proh-deezh
Meaning: A true marvel.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ce spectacle est incroyable. (This show is incredible.)
Person 2: Oui, un vrai prodige. (Yes, a true marvel.)
9. Ça m’émerveille
Pronunciation: sah meh-mehr-vey
Meaning: It amazes me.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Cette magie est difficile à comprendre. (This magic is hard to understand.)
Person 2: Oui, ça m’émerveille. (Yes, it amazes me.)
10. Je suis impressionné(e)
Pronunciation: juh swee ahn-preh-syoh-nay
Meaning: I’m impressed.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il a fait réapparaître la pièce! (He made the coin reappear!)
Person 2: Je suis impressionné(e). (I’m impressed.)
11. Incroyable mais vrai
Pronunciation: ahn-krwah-yah-bluh meh vray
Meaning: Incredible but true.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il a deviné ma carte! (He guessed my card!)
Person 2: Incroyable mais vrai. (Incredible but true.)
12. C’est tout un art
Pronunciation: say too-tuhn ahr
Meaning: It’s a real art.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: La magie demande beaucoup de pratique. (Magic requires a lot of practice.)
Person 2: Oui, c’est tout un art. (Yes, it’s a real art.)
13. Éblouissant
Pronunciation: ay-bloo-ee-sahn
Meaning: Dazzling.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ce tour était vraiment impressionnant. (That trick was really impressive.)
Person 2: Oui, éblouissant! (Yes, dazzling!)
14. Ça me laisse sans voix
Pronunciation: sah muh less sahn vwahr
Meaning: It leaves me speechless.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: As-tu vu ce qu’il a fait? (Did you see what he did?)
Person 2: Oui, ça me laisse sans voix. (Yes, it leaves me speechless.)
15. Absolument magique
Pronunciation: ab-so-loo-mahn mah-zheek
Meaning: Absolutely magical.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ce moment est parfait. (This moment is perfect.)
Person 2: Absolument magique. (Absolutely magical.)
16. J’en veux encore
Pronunciation: zhahn vuh ahn-kor
Meaning: I want more.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu veux voir un autre tour? (Do you want to see another trick?)
Person 2: Oui, j’en veux encore! (Yes, I want more!)
17. C’est un mystère
Pronunciation: say uhn mee-stair
Meaning: It’s a mystery.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Comment a-t-il fait ça? (How did he do that?)
Person 2: Je ne sais pas, c’est un mystère. (I don’t know, it’s a mystery.)
Exercise to Practice “Magic” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises to help you practice the vocabulary and phrases related to “magic” in French. Each sentence is in French, followed by the meaning in English.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- La ______ du magicien était incroyable.
(The magic of the magician was incredible.) - Cet endroit est rempli d’__________.
(This place is full of enchantment.) - Le sorcier a jeté un ______ sur le village.
(The wizard cast a spell on the village.) - L’__________ de la forêt était captivant.
(The bewitchment of the forest was captivating.) - Ce film est une ______ visuelle.
(This movie is a visual fairyland.) - La __________ de Noël émerveille tout le monde.
(The magic of Christmas amazes everyone.) - J’adore les contes pleins de ________.
(I love tales full of fantasy.) - L’__________ des enfants était évident.
(The amazement of the children was obvious.) - Le château est une ______ de l’architecture.
(The castle is a marvel of architecture.) - Les histoires de fantômes relèvent du __________.
(Ghost stories belong to the supernatural.) - Ce spectacle de magie est tout simplement ________.
(This magic show is simply dazzling.) - La lumière a créé une ______ spéciale dans la pièce.
(The light created a magical atmosphere in the room.)
Answers
- magie
- enchantement
- sortilège
- ensorcellement
- féerie
- magie
- fantaisie
- émerveillement
- merveille
- surnaturel
- éblouissant
- aura
Conclusion
Learning how to say “magic” in French opens the door to expressing a sense of wonder and enchantment in your conversations. From discussing magical tricks to describing a breathtaking moment, the variety of words and phrases available helps you add richness to your language skills.
With regular practice, these terms will feel natural and easy to use. Whether you’re marveling at a magician’s performance or talking about the magic of everyday life, these words will help you communicate your thoughts effectively. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon master the art of discussing “magic” in French with confidence!