Are the terms "witch" and "wizard" interchangeable.

[Siren Stern]

Here in Brazil, the word Wizard ("feiticeiro" in Portuguese) are used by Wiccans to refers in a pejorative way to someone who casts overmuch spells, forgeting the most important part of the witchcraft: to venerate the Gods and the nature, celebrating the seasons and the Moon phases. Here, the word "witch" ("bruxa") has a pejorative meaning between the society too, but it's most common used and well acepted by Wiccans. In other hand. I had never seemed someone refering self as a "Wizard".  

[Esselean]

I don't like how people think that wizard is the male version of witch. It is soooo annoying!!!

Also I am quite interested in wizardry & I hate how some books ive read on wizards say that only a male can be a wizard.
Grrrr damn sexist......

Anyway the fact is that witchraft and wizardry are very different (I blame Harry Potter for the misconception) Besides wizardry practically died out It mixed with alchemy and became modern science.  

[doistu]

Wizard is too fluffy for me lol.

I don't know a single male witch who goes by the term "wizard"  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Stargazer Dante

Just a random question. I feel like a fluff XD.

So are the terms "witch" and "wizard" interchangeable.

I have always found that "witch" is a proper form and "wizard" has never quite been mentioned within my studying,But are they interchangable,or should I say:
"Can one call himself a wizard,And can one herself a witch?"

No, I don't think they're interchangeable if you want to be taken seriously. If you're doing witchcraft for the lolz though I suppose you could call yourself a wizard. Although, if someone introduced themselves to me as a wizard, I'd start asking them what they intend to take on for a prestige class and how much it sucks to have a d4 hit die.  

[LordNeuf]

From what I understand...

Witch (Fantasy) : A term used in a fantasy story setting to portray a female spell caster, usually a antagonist.

Witch (Modern) : A term used to identify practitioners of modern witchcraft and/or Wicca. The term witch can mean male or female practitioners. IMPORTANT NOTE : Not all Wiccans consider themselves Witches, not all Witches consider themselves Wiccans, and not all neo-pagans associate themselves with the word Witch.

Wizard : A term used in a fantasy story setting to portray a male or female spell caster. This term is exclusive for fantasy stories and has no bearing on the modern practice of witchcraft.

Warlock : Synomym for Wizard, a term unassociated with modern witchcraft.  

[too2sweet]

LordNeuf

From what I understand...

Witch (Fantasy) : A term used in a fantasy story setting to portray a female spell caster, usually a antagonist.

Witch (Modern) : A term used to identify practitioners of modern witchcraft and/or Wicca. The term witch can mean male or female practitioners. IMPORTANT NOTE : Not all Wiccans consider themselves Witches, not all Witches consider themselves Wiccans, and not all neo-pagans associate themselves with the word Witch.

Wizard : A term used in a fantasy story setting to portray a male or female spell caster. This term is exclusive for fantasy stories and has no bearing on the modern practice of witchcraft.

Warlock : Synomym for Wizard, a term unassociated with modern witchcraft.

In Wicca traditionally all Wiccans are Witches because it is a religion based on the use of witchcraft, so you can't really practice your religion with out it. Neo-Wicca (eclectic), tends to follow the "not all Wiccans are Witches" philosophy.

There are some Pagan paths that do use the term Wizard, (see the link on Oberon Zell-Ravenheart), but again not a title that is take too seriously in the Pagan community.

Warlock, at least from a Wiccan point of view means oathbreaker and shouldn't be used.  

[Esselean]

LordNeuf

From what I understand...

Witch (Fantasy) : A term used in a fantasy story setting to portray a female spell caster, usually a antagonist.

Witch (Modern) : A term used to identify practitioners of modern witchcraft and/or Wicca. The term witch can mean male or female practitioners. IMPORTANT NOTE : Not all Wiccans consider themselves Witches, not all Witches consider themselves Wiccans, and not all neo-pagans associate themselves with the word Witch.

Wizard : A term used in a fantasy story setting to portray a male or female spell caster. This term is exclusive for fantasy stories and has no bearing on the modern practice of witchcraft.

Warlock : Synomym for Wizard, a term unassociated with modern witchcraft.

I don't believe Wizard is purely a fictional term. Sure wizardry isn't as common as witchcraft these days but that doesnt mean that it doesnt exist.

As for the word 'warlock' I don't see how that term has anything to do with 'wizard' In fact i have never heard the term warlock outside a fictional context  

[WitchyBoy]

Esselean

LordNeuf

From what I understand...

Witch (Fantasy) : A term used in a fantasy story setting to portray a female spell caster, usually a antagonist.

Witch (Modern) : A term used to identify practitioners of modern witchcraft and/or Wicca. The term witch can mean male or female practitioners. IMPORTANT NOTE : Not all Wiccans consider themselves Witches, not all Witches consider themselves Wiccans, and not all neo-pagans associate themselves with the word Witch.

Wizard : A term used in a fantasy story setting to portray a male or female spell caster. This term is exclusive for fantasy stories and has no bearing on the modern practice of witchcraft.

Warlock : Synomym for Wizard, a term unassociated with modern witchcraft.

I don't believe Wizard is purely a fictional term. Sure wizardry isn't as common as witchcraft these days but that doesnt mean that it doesnt exist.

As for the word 'warlock' I don't see how that term has anything to do with 'wizard' In fact i have never heard the term warlock outside a fictional context

warlock means oath breaker or liar, so to refer to someone as a warlock speciffically in the magickal community is a big insult.  

[akineal]

The term Wizard really has nothing to do with Witchcraft in particular, at least not the religion.
Wizard means Magician or Sorcerer, but never Witch.
They are purely fictional characters made by authors to say that the person had "powers" of some sort but was not connected to Witchcraft.

So I doubt it's interchangeable do to the fact that it has no actual connection to the Religion of Wicca/Witchcraft.