What magical phrase does the Fairy Godmother say?

The magical phrase the Fairy Godmother says in Disney's Cinderella is “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.”

The phrase comes from the song also known as “The Magic Song,” performed by the Fairy Godmother during Cinderella's transformation. As she sings, a pumpkin becomes a carriage, mice become horses, and other animals are transformed into attendants for the royal ball.

The song was written by Mack David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston for the 1950 film. Verna Felton, who voiced the Fairy Godmother, performed it in the original animated feature. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 1951 ceremony.

“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” is often mixed up with generic magic words such as “Abracadabra” or “Hocus Pocus,” but those phrases are not the Fairy Godmother's signature line in this film. The unusual wording is deliberately playful and functions as both a spell and the song's memorable refrain.