What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
maleficia
Example
The villagers accused the old woman of practicing maleficia and causing their crops to fail. [maleficia: noun]
Example
He cast a maleficia on his enemy, causing them to suffer from a mysterious illness. [maleficia: singular form]
hex
Example
She believed that her neighbor had put a hex on her, causing her to lose her job. [hex: noun]
Example
The witch hexed the prince, causing him to fall in love with a frog. [hex: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hex is more commonly used than maleficia in everyday language, especially in popular culture and fiction. Maleficia is a less common term that is typically used in academic or historical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between maleficia and hex?
Both maleficia and hex are associated with informal or colloquial language and are not typically used in formal contexts.