spell / fascination
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to captivate
To exert a strong fascination or attraction on someone so that the person is completely captivated.
Die spannende Erzählung zog die Kinder sofort in ihren Bann.
The exciting story immediately captivated the children.
The word 'Bann' (spell/fascination) is used almost only in fixed idioms today. As a standalone word, it is archaic and appears mainly in historical or fantasy contexts.
Die Magierin sprach einen mächtigen Bann über das ganze Dorf.
The sorceress cast a powerful spell over the whole village.
The expression 'jemanden/etwas in seinen Bann ziehen' (to captivate someone/something) describes a strong fascination. The structure is: something (nominative) captivates someone (accusative).
Der Film hat mich von der ersten Minute an in seinen Bann gezogen.
The film captivated me from the very first minute.
The idiom 'den Bann brechen' (to break the spell) means to end a negative, repeating situation. It is very often used in sports when a team wins again after a long time or a player scores a goal.
Mit diesem Sieg hat die Mannschaft endlich den Bann gebrochen.
With this victory, the team finally broke the spell.
The original meaning of 'Bann' (spell/ban) as magic or banishment is found today almost only in fairy tales, fantasy stories, or historical texts. Pay attention to contexts involving magic, the Middle Ages, or religion.
Der Papst belegte den König mit dem Bann.
The pope placed the king under an ecclesiastical ban.
suction / pull
'der Sog' and 'der Bann' can both describe a strong attraction or fascination. With 'Sog', you think of a force that almost pulls someone along, often in a way that makes it hard to get away again. This can literally be a current, but here it is mainly meant figuratively. 'Bann' is used especially in the fixed phrase 'jemanden in seinen Bann ziehen' (to captivate someone / to draw someone under its spell). This sounds a bit more vivid and means that someone is completely absorbed or enthusiastic. 'Sog' emphasizes the pulling effect more, while 'Bann' emphasizes the strong fascination.
Die Geschichte zieht die Kinder schon nach wenigen Minuten in ihren Bann.
The story captivates the children after just a few minutes.
Der Sog der sozialen Medien ist stark, und plötzlich ist eine Stunde vorbei.
The pull of social media is strong, and suddenly an hour has gone by.