# Is there a name for this type of word? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140 "2004-08-23T20:55:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/1 "2004-08-23T20:55:12Z")
Is there a name for a word that, when spelled backwards, forms a different word? For example, dog spelled backwards is god. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/2 "2004-08-23T21:18:19Z")
My memory just calls them reversals, but [this word page](http://members.aol.com/gulfhigh2/words5.html) just calls them reversible words. > [@](#): > > Some words which, when spelled backwards, form other words are: AMAROID/DIORAMA, ANIMAL/LAMINA, DEIFIER/REIFIED, DELIVER/REVILED, DENIER/REINED, DENIES/SEINED, DENNIS/SINNED, DESSERT/TRESSED, DESSERTS/STRESSED, DIAPER/REPAID, DRAWER/REWARD, ECITON/NOTICE, ELIDES/SEDILE, ENAMOR/ROMANE, GATEMAN/NAMETAG, LEPER/REPEL, LIVED/DEVIL, LOOTER/RETOOL, MULLAHS/SHALLUM, PACER/RECAP, PARTS/STRAP, PILFER/REFLIP, PUPILS/SLIPUP, REDIPS/SPIDER, REDRAW/WARDER, REFLOW/WOLFER, REGAL/LAGER, REKNIT/TINKER, REKNITS/STINKER, RECAPS/SPACER, REVOTES/SETOVER, SATRAPS/SPARTAS, SKUA/AUKS, SLEETS/STEELS, SLOOPS/SPOOLS, SNOOPS/SPOONS, SPORTS/STROPS, STRAW/WARTS [Pierre Abbat, Randal May, Chris Hendricks, Rudy Wang, Stuart Kidd]. And so does this other [reversible words](http://www.arq.net/~chogg/palslap/revs.htm) page. ---
**Author:** ![beltbuckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@beltbuckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beltbuckle)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/3 "2004-08-23T22:07:55Z")
I was thinking of palimdromes, but palindromes must form the same word or phrase forwards or backwords, like racecar. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/4 "2004-08-23T22:25:33Z")
It is a very specialized form of **anagram** (“margana” is AFAIK not a word). An anagram, of course, is a set of words using the same letters in different order, like TOPS, STOP, SPOT, POST, and POTS. Note that SPOT and TOPS, and STOP and POTS, are reversals within this anagram set. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Gutgore\_Blooddrink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Captain\_Gutgore\_Blooddrink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Gutgore_Blooddrink)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/5 "2004-08-24T00:18:57Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > It is a very specialized form of **anagram** (“margana” is AFAIK not a word). An anagram, of course, is a set of words using the same letters in different order, like TOPS, STOP, SPOT, POST, and POTS. Note that SPOT and TOPS, and STOP and POTS, are reversals within this anagram set. In honor of the time tested tradition of the SDMB generally improving life on this planet of ours, if no better word be found (reversible word just sounds flakey) I say we offer Margana Anagram to OED as the official phrase for above stated situation. The Straight Dope - Solving world problems and minor linguistic controversies since time forgotten. MeatBeast, Proud member since 2003 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/6 "2004-08-24T00:26:22Z")
**Filthy–** Good idea, but I think the OED should just call it a margana. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/7 "2004-08-24T00:35:40Z")
The first time I saw a term applied to such words, it was “drow”. (Think about it.) But that didn’t seem to catch on. There’s been some threads that have given a more commonly used term for them, but I can’t recall it. It seems my mind is stuck with “drow”. Eugh. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/8 "2004-08-24T02:32:08Z")
[old thread on this topic](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=48156) ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/9 "2004-08-24T05:39:24Z")
I haven’t seen a commonly agreed term for **a** word of this kind, but I’ve seen **pairs** of this kind referred to as ‘mirror’ pairs, ‘reflection’ pairs or reversibles. And I agree with those who say it’s just a special type of anagram. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-word/261140/10 "2004-08-24T14:01:37Z")
Just off the top of my head… a reversagram? 😉