Here is the origin of Voldemort name and its meaning.
Whether you’ve been a fan since the original novel or just found out when the film adaptation was made. What is clear is that now you are familiar with the name and figure of Voldemort.
Yes, this name and figure is the big enemy of the top teenage wizard character, Harry Potter. In the live-action film adaptation, his figure is played by the legendary British actor, Ralph Fiennes.
But even though we are familiar with his name and figure, are you also familiar with the origin of Voldemort’s name? Well, if you might not be familiar, let’s take a look at a brief discussion.
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The Origin of Voldemort Name and Its Meaning
Basically, the author of the story, J.K. Rowling was inspired by French words or names. And in fact, many of the names of other Harry Potter characters also come from this source.
Well for the case of Voldemort, J.K. Rowling was inspired by 3 words in French. The three words are: “Vol”, “De”, and “Mort”.
Now these three words if we interpret them in English respectively are as follows: “Vol” is flight, “De” is of or can also be from, and “Mort” is Death. So if we combine the three, Voldemort means: “Flight of Death” or “Flight from Death.”
Now if we translate it into Indonesian, then Voldemort means the flying death or flying death.
Meaning that makes sense
Okay maybe when you see the translation, you feel confused or even weird yourself. But in fact, the meaning of flight of death makes perfect sense.
How does it make sense? Well the meaning of this name has actually been shown through the scenes of 2 Harry Potter films. Specifically, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 1 (2010).
So in Half-Blood Prince, the meaning of this name is presented in a very metaphorical and poetic scene. Specifically, during the scene where Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) sees the contents of Professor Horace Slughorn’s (Jim Brodbent) past memories in the Penseive container.
In the scene, we see Voldemort who is still a Hogwarts student, Tom Riddle (Frank Dllane) asking Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) for help. Specifically, he asks for help to be taught the technique of splitting his soul into 7 parts.
Later these 7 souls are stored in 7 different living and dead media. Now the separation of these seven lives is what we will later know as Horcruxes.
Anyway, when he asked Slughorn to teach him, Slughorn refused. But yes in the end as we know, Riddle can learn and do it. Now with him being able to do the technique, then in other words, he can escape his death many times.
Well escape in this case the English is Flee. Flee means to run as fast as possible or in the blink of an eye. Like something that flies fast in the air (flight). So in other words, Voldemort can run fast from (from) death that “chases him.” Get it?
Fly Without the Need for a Broom
Whereas in Deathly Hallows-Part 1, we see the absurdity of this meaning through the opening scene which shows Harry with 6 other “Harry Potter” doing an escape through the air.
The other 6 characters, whose faces and bodies have been transformed into Harry after taking the Polyjuice Potion, depart for the air on broomsticks. Meanwhile, the original Harry rides a kind of modified motorcycle with his loyal supervisor, Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane).
Well on their way, they were all chased and attacked by Death Eaters. Towards the end of the scene, Voldemort suddenly appeared flying through the air. He also had a wand fight with Harry.
Another additional scene that proves the meaning of Voldemort’s name is the scene before the final battle between Harry and Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).
Specifically, the scene when the two talk and start wrestling each other and dropping both of them from the top of one of the destroyed Hogwarts buildings.
When the two were wrestling, of course, the reason Harry stayed in the air was because he was wrestling by holding both of Voldemort’s arms. Of course, if Harry had removed his hands from his nemesis’ arms, he would have fallen to the ground and died instantly.
Voldemort the Wizard with “God” Skills
Now when looking at the re-descriptions of both the first and second Deathly Hallows scenes. Once again, it appears that in both scenes, Voldemort can fly or hover in the air without the need to use his broomstick.
Even though we know that despite his face that looks like a person, Voldemort is still an ordinary human being. Then if so, how can Voldemort do this?
Let’s take a look at Rowling’s official tweet that she uploaded in March 2016 below.
Yes as you read. Basically, witches who have very strong magical abilities can perform their magical activities without bothering to use wands and broomsticks. And as we know, Voldemort is one of the wizards who has the ability of a “god.”
Thus, it is not surprising that he can levitate or fly without the need for a broomstick and can even cast spells just by moving his hands or snapping his fingers. So in the end with his ability to fly around freely. As a result, he can also easily kill the lives of his targeted victims including of course, Harry Potter even though Harry is in the air.
With all these examples and explanations. So once again it makes perfect sense that the meaning of the name Voldemort is Flight of Death or Flight from Death.
Okay guys. That was a complete explanation of the origin of the name Voldemort along with an explanation of its meaning. Hopefully this discussion is useful.
