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Quiz about Learning Latin Through Harry Potter Names
Quiz about Learning Latin Through Harry Potter Names

Learning Latin Through "Harry Potter" Names Quiz


Much has been said and written about the Latin names of spells in the "Harry Potter" books. This quiz, however, will concentrate on Latin people's names found throughout the series.
This is a renovated/adopted version of an old quiz by author Gufa84

A multiple-choice quiz by LadyNym. Estimated time: 2 mins.
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Author
LadyNym
Time
2 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
147,686
Updated
Jan 28 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
277
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: caparica (10/10), Guest 95 (10/10), shvdotr (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. What do the Latin first names of Hagrid and Dumbledore - Albus and Rubeus - refer to? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This doomed character's given name means "little king" in Latin. Who is he? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The first name of Hogwarts' most loathed teacher, Dolores Umbridge, also comes from Latin (albeit through Spanish). What is its meaning?


Question 4 of 10
4. The head of Ravenclaw house, Charms professor Filius Flitwick, bears a family-related Latin first name. What does it mean? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The name of Herbology professor Pomona Sprout comes from the Latin word for what botanical structure? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which of these is NOT a correct translation of the word "severus", the first name of Potions master Snape? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Hogwarts' Astronomy professor bears the lofty-sounding name of Aurora Sinistra. What does "sinistra" mean? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Ignotus Peverell was the original owner of the Invisibility Cloak. What is the rather fitting meaning of his name? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Ludo Bagman's name is a good fit for his character. Which of these actions is the correct translation of the Latin word "ludo"? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which fearsome character bears a Latin first name meaning "woman warrior"? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 25 2024 : caparica: 10/10
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 95: 10/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What do the Latin first names of Hagrid and Dumbledore - Albus and Rubeus - refer to?

Answer: Colours

"Albus" means "white" - a reference to Dumbledore's spiritual, ascetic nature. On the other hand, "rubeus" (a synonym of "ruber") means "red" or "reddish" - a reference to Hagrid's fiery, emotional nature, and maybe also his penchant for strong drink (which would turn his nose red). English words such as "albino" and "ruby" are related to these Latin words. J.K. Rowling meant for these two characters to represent the red (base metal) and white (gold) in alchemy.

Another character with a colour-related given name is Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, whose name means "red-haired": in fact, he is described as having a lion-like "mane of tawny hair".
2. This doomed character's given name means "little king" in Latin. Who is he?

Answer: Regulus Black

Like his older brother Sirius and most other members of the Black family, Regulus Black was named after a star - in this case, the brightest in the constellation Leo, also known as Alpha Leonis or "Heart of the Lion". In Latin, Regulus is the diminutive of "rex, regis", literally meaning "little king", and often translated as "ruler of a small country", "princeling", or "chieftain". Regulus is also the Latin name for the mythical monster known as basilisk ("little king" in Greek) - so named because of a white spot on its head that resembles a crown.

In Roman history, Marcus Atilius Regulus was a general and statesman who was captured by the Carthaginians in 255 BC, during the first Punic War.

Though Remus and Cornelius are also Latin names, Dedalus is the Latinized form of the Greek "Daidalos", the legendary craftsman who built the labyrinth in Crete.
3. The first name of Hogwarts' most loathed teacher, Dolores Umbridge, also comes from Latin (albeit through Spanish). What is its meaning?

Answer: Pains

A popular name in Spanish-speaking country, the given name Dolores is a reference to the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows ("Nuestra Señora de los Dolores"). However, the Spanish word is directly derived from Latin: "dolores" is the nominative plural of the noun "dolor, doloris", which means either "pain" or "sorrow". Not surprisingly, such a name was chosen by J.K. Rowling for the loathsome character of Dolores Jane Umbridge, who clearly enjoys inflicting pain and distress on others, particularly students.

Umbridge's surname also has Latin roots. Though meant as a pun on the English word "umbrage", it also contains the Latin word "umbra". From primarily indicating "shadow" or "shade", "umbra" also came to mean "ghost" or "suspicion".
4. The head of Ravenclaw house, Charms professor Filius Flitwick, bears a family-related Latin first name. What does it mean?

Answer: Son

The diminutive but smart Charms master is named after the Latin word for "son"; "filia" is the corresponding feminine form ("daughter"). Professor Flitwick's given name is likely a reference to the alchemical symbol known as "filius philosophorum" ("philosophers' son"), another name for the philosopher's stone (which appears in the title of the series' first volume) - meaning something made by true philosophers. "Filius", which is also the root of the English words "filial" (pertaining or befitting a son or daughter) and "filiation" (derivation), may also refer to Professor Flitwick's attachment and loyalty to his Hogwarts family.

The Latin word for "brother" is "frater". "Patruus" is a paternal uncle, while "avunculus" is a maternal one. "Patruelis" is a paternal cousin, while a maternal cousin is "sobrinus" (male) or "sobrina" (female).
5. The name of Herbology professor Pomona Sprout comes from the Latin word for what botanical structure?

Answer: Fruit

Pomona was the Roman goddess of fruit trees, gardens, and orchards. Her name comes from "pomum", which means "fruit" or "fruit tree". The English word "pome", denoting fruits with a core such as apples and pears, is derived from "pomum". Pomona was a purely Roman goddess, with no Greek counterpart; she was often depicted with a curved pruning knife, symbolizing her role in the care of fruit trees. Both of Professor Sprout's names emphasize her connection to nature and vegetation.

Professor Minerva McGonagall is also named after a goddess, the Roman counterpart of the Greek Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Professor Quirinus Quirrell, on the other hand, bears the name of an ancient Roman god of war who was later identified with Romulus, Rome's founder.
6. Which of these is NOT a correct translation of the word "severus", the first name of Potions master Snape?

Answer: Strong

Probably the series' most complex character, Professor Severus Snape bears a name that reflects his personality as a teacher. The Latin adjective "severus" may be translated as "stern", "strict", "serious" or "harsh", and is the root of the English words "severe" and "severity". In addition, it was also a Roman "cognomen" (third name): the Severan imperial dynasty, founded by Lucius Septimius Severus, ruled the Roman Empire between 193 and 235. Since a "cognomen" was a kind of nickname (which later became hereditary), it was also a reflection of Septimius Severus' character - at least from the point of view of Christians and Jews, who were harshly persecuted during his reign, and also of his rivals for the throne, who were disposed of.

Latin has a number of words for "strong" - such as "fortis", "robustus" and "validus" - but "severus" is not one of them.
7. Hogwarts' Astronomy professor bears the lofty-sounding name of Aurora Sinistra. What does "sinistra" mean?

Answer: Left

Sinistra is the feminine form of the adjective "sinister", which means "left" (or, more accurately, "on the left side"). In Latin, "sinister" also had the meaning of "bad" or "adverse" - hence the meaning ("ominous") of the same word in modern English. The name Sinistra is also occasionally used for a star in the constellation Ophiuchus, officially known as Nu Ophiuchi. In Italian, the feminine noun "sinistra" means "left".

Professor Sinistra's given name, Aurora, is never mentioned in the book, but is found on J.K. Rowling's official site. It means "dawn" in Latin, even though in this context it probably refers to the phenomenon (known as polar lights) caused by solar winds interacting with the magnetosphere.
8. Ignotus Peverell was the original owner of the Invisibility Cloak. What is the rather fitting meaning of his name?

Answer: Unknown

The youngest of the three brothers who were the recipients of the Deathly Hallows, Ignotus Peverell was Harry Potter's ancestor. His name means "unknown" in Latin; the word, however, also has the meaning of "forgiven", with a somewhat different (though related) etymology. In the meaning of "forgiven", "ignotus" is the past participle of the verb "ignoscere" ("acknowledge"). As "unknown", it is formed by the negative prefix "in-" followed by "notus", the past participle of the verb "noscere" ("know").

Being able to hide under the Invisibility Cloak made Ignotus Peverell "unknown" to other people, and also to death for a long time, as he was the only one of his brothers to live to a ripe old age.

All three wrong answers are formed in Latin with the prefix "in-": "intectus" (undressed), "infelix" (unlucky), and "inquietus" (unquiet).
9. Ludo Bagman's name is a good fit for his character. Which of these actions is the correct translation of the Latin word "ludo"?

Answer: I play

"Ludo" is the first person of the present indicative of the verb "ludere" ("play"). The corresponding noun is "ludus": in Ancient Rome, "ludi" denoted the public games held for the benefit of the Roman people, generally in conjunction with religious festivals. Though (according to author J.K. Rowling) Bagman's full given name was Ludovic (a name of Germanic origin meaning "famous warrior"), his nickname Ludo hints at his position as Head of Department of Magical Games and Sports, as well as his previous career as a Quidditch player.

Ludo is also the name of a strategy board game. The English words "ludic" ("pertaining to play") and "ludicrous" are both related to "ludus" and "ludere".
10. Which fearsome character bears a Latin first name meaning "woman warrior"?

Answer: Bellatrix Lestrange

Like most members of the ancient House of Black, Bellatrix Lestrange was named after a star - the third-brightest in the constellation Orion. Bellatrix (Gamma Orionis) is also known as the Amazon Star - not surprisingly, since its name is the female form of "bellator", the Latin word for "warrior". These words are derived from "bellum", meaning "war" - from which English words such as "bellicose" and "belligerent" also come. The feminine suffix "-trix" in Latin has become "-tress" in English (as in "actress" or "waitress").

Both the names of Narcissa and Andromeda (both of them Bellatrix Lestrange's sisters) are of Greek origin, while Petunia comes from Guaraní, an indigenous language of South America, through French.
Source: Author LadyNym

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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