Sonorous Charm

• Incantation: Sonorus
• Pronunciation: soh-NOR-us
• Wand Movement: None specified
• Light: None specified
• Effect: Magically magnifies the volume of the caster's voice, enabling it to project over great distances or loud noises.
• Type: Charm

The Sonorous Charm is a practical spell used for vocal amplification, functioning as a magical megaphone. It is primarily employed for public speaking and commentating at large events where the speaker needs to be heard by a massive audience.

• During the 1994 Quidditch World Cup, Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, used Sonorus to provide match commentary that boomed across the entire stadium.
• Albus Dumbledore cast the Charm non-verbally on his own throat in the Great Hall following the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. His magically amplified voice instantly silenced the confused and celebrating students, allowing him to announce the tragic death of Cedric Diggory.
• Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, also used this spell to address the students and staff of Hogwarts during the end-of-term memorial feast for Cedric Diggory.
• Lord Voldemort made powerful and terrifying use of this spell during the Battle of Hogwarts. He cast Sonorus to project his disembodied voice throughout the castle and its grounds, taunting Harry Potter and delivering ultimatums to the defenders of Hogwarts.

• The direct counter-spell for the Sonorous Charm is the Quieting Charm, which has the incantation Quietus. Casting this spell returns the user's voice to its normal volume. Ludo Bagman was seen using this after his commentary.
• The difficulty of learning the Sonorous Charm is not specified in the novels, but its use by various officials suggests it is a standard and functional Charm known by many adult wizards and witches, likely taught at some point in the Hogwarts Charms curriculum.

The incantation Sonorus is a Latin adjective meaning “loud,” “noisy,” or “sonorous.” The name is a direct and literal description of the spell's effect.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, when Albus Dumbledore uses the spell, a visible blue-white magical energy emanates from his wand towards his throat, a visual effect not described in the book (film).
• In some Harry Potter video games, the spell is adapted as an offensive or utility spell. For instance, in LEGO Harry Potter, it can be used to shatter magical glass objects (video game).