# 7 letter word problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2002, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355 "2002-10-01T02:48:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/1 "2002-10-01T02:48:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/2 "2002-10-01T02:58:32Z")
racecar jbj ---
**Author:** ![Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michele_in_SoCal)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/3 "2002-10-01T03:03:24Z")
What you are looking for are **palindromes**. Do a search and you will find several interesting sites. Have fun with the girls! ---
**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/4 "2002-10-01T03:05:21Z")
The type of word you’re looking for is called a palindrome. You might like to try doing a search on Google for them ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/5 "2002-10-01T03:07:39Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/6 "2002-10-01T03:11:34Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/7 "2002-10-01T03:16:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michele_in_SoCal)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/8 "2002-10-01T03:37:02Z")
OOPS! You are right: palindrome is wrong! And Sigene even gave an example and I still goofed! :smack: Sorry about that! ---
**Author:** ![Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michele_in_SoCal)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/9 "2002-10-01T03:40:30Z")
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](http://www.wolinskyweb.com/word.htm) Hope you like it as much as I do! ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/10 "2002-10-01T03:46:17Z")
FTR, these are known as “reversible words” or “semordnilaps” (see the derivation?) ---
**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/11 "2002-10-01T06:49:51Z")
Damn, was too quick off the mark. My apologies Sigene. I promise to pay more attention the the OP from now on. For my penance, I offer [this](http://www.jy-muggeridge.freeserve.co.uk/semordnilap.htm) and this [this](http://www.papagoose.com/030402.html) site. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-letter-word-problem/130355/12 "2002-10-01T07:01:25Z")
There’s a bunch of these reversals at the bottom of this page: [http://members.aol.com/gulfhigh2/words5.html](http://members.aol.com/gulfhigh2/words5.html)