# One word foward another word backwards

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-word-foward-another-word-backwards/440258>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 6, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-word-foward-another-word-backwards/440258 "2008-03-06T00:08:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-word-foward-another-word-backwards/440258/1 "2008-03-06T00:08:43Z")

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A palindrome is a word that is the same spelled forward or backward like “bob.”

But what about a words that spells another word backwards.

For example, “god” is “dog” backwards. Is there a name for words like this?

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**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-word-foward-another-word-backwards/440258/2 "2008-03-06T00:11:44Z")

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[Semordnilap.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palindrome#Semordnilaps) Yeah, it’s whimsical.

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**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-word-foward-another-word-backwards/440258/3 "2008-03-06T00:14:58Z")

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What a cool word.

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**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-word-foward-another-word-backwards/440258/4 "2008-03-06T00:15:17Z")

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While we’re at it.  
I live near a road that is spelled NOXON. (as in Noxon Road).  
If you flip this word over…it reads the same.  
Watcha call that?

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-word-foward-another-word-backwards/440258/5 "2008-03-06T00:17:55Z")

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[QUOTE=ltfire]  
While we’re at it.  
I live near a road that is spelled NOXON. (as in Noxon Road).  
If you flip this word over..it reads the same.  
Watcha call that?  
[/QUOTE]

Ambigram.

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**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-word-foward-another-word-backwards/440258/6 "2008-03-06T00:25:44Z")

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[QUOTE=pulykamell]  
Ambigram.  
[/QUOTE]

A natural ambigram, to be specific.

[Wiki on the subject.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambigram)