I’m doing an activity for the girl scouts this weekend, and for this I’m looking for any word that will spell a different word when spelled backward ( i.e. LIVE, EVIL). The word(s) can be 7 OR 8 letters long, and if it is relevant to the girl scouts so much the better. I’m not much of a word smithy, but I know there are some sharp dopers out there that can give me some suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help.
racecar
jbj
What you are looking for are palindromes. Do a search and you will find several interesting sites.
Have fun with the girls!
The type of word you’re looking for is called a palindrome. You might like to try doing a search on Google for them
Palindromes are words are phrases that are the same, backwards and forwards. Sigene is looking for words that become different words when reversed, like “stressed” becomes “desserts” and vice versa. That’s not a palindrome, it’s a special kind of anagram. (It probably has a name.)
Anyways, “stressed” and “desserts”.
Palindromes are words are phrases that are the same, backwards and forwards. Sigene is looking for words that become different words when reversed, like “stressed” becomes “desserts” and vice versa. That’s not a palindrome, it’s a special kind of anagram. (I think they’re called reversals.)
Anyways, “stressed” and “desserts”.
Actually, a palindrome is a word that is the same backward or forward. Sigene is looking for a word that spells a different one backwards. The most famous one is STRESSED/DESSERTS.
Another is REVILED/DELIVER.
OOPS! You are right: palindrome is wrong! And Sigene
even gave an example and I still goofed! :smack:
Sorry about that!
As penance for my goof, may I offer this fabulous site that lists oodles of word play sites. It is one of my favorites.
http://www.wolinskyweb.com/word.htm
Hope you like it as much as I do!
FTR, these are known as “reversible words” or “semordnilaps” (see the derivation?)
Damn, was too quick off the mark. My apologies Sigene. I promise to pay more attention the the OP from now on.
There’s a bunch of these reversals at the bottom of this page: http://members.aol.com/gulfhigh2/words5.html