# Reversible words **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 1, 1999, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversible-words/1246 "1999-10-01T14:13:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fheaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@fheaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fheaney)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 1999, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversible-words/1246/1 "1999-10-01T14:13:00Z")
Sure, I suppose words that can be reversed to spell other words (won/now, live/evil, desserts/stressed, etc.) may be generally considered anagrams, but we in the world of puzzles refer to them as “reversals”. I’ve also heard them referred to jokingly as “semordnilaps” but I don’t think this is particularly common. – Francis Heaney ---
**Author:** ![fheaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@fheaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fheaney)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 1999, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversible-words/1246/2 "1999-10-01T15:10:00Z")
Sorry, I neglected to include the column link: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/managram.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/managram.html) – Francis ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 1999, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversible-words/1246/3 "1999-10-01T16:40:00Z")
While driving in to work the other day, I noticed in my mirror that the car behind me was an ATOYOT. It occured to me that if I referred to it as A TOYOTA I would have a palindrome. (A TOYOTA -\> ATOYOT A). Then, I realized that this worked in my mirror because all of the letters in the name were symmetrical. Not all palindromes have this property; for example MADAM, I’M ADAM is a palindrome (MADA M’I MADAM) but it wouldn’t look correct in a mirror since the D isn’t symmetric. Is there any kind of name for this type of palindrome, or is it just an observation? * * * “You can’t run away forever; but there’s nothing wrong with getting a good head start.” — Jim Steinman Dennis Matheson — [Dennis@mountaindiver.com](mailto:Dennis@mountaindiver.com) Hike, Dive, Ski, Climb — [www.mountaindiver.com](http://www.mountaindiver.com) ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 1999, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversible-words/1246/4 "1999-10-01T22:56:00Z")
I’ve wondered about the same thing too, also with an imported car. My example isn’t that good though: ISUZU. USUZI? Err, well, I kept wishing the car was called an USIZU so that it would have reflectional symmetry. I think the term you’re looking for is **reflectional symmetry**. USIZU has reflectional symmetry (at least in the font they use on the car) but isn’t a palindrome. A TOYOTA is a symmetrical palindrome (if you ignore the little space between the words). Most palindromes have no symmetry. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversible-words/1246/5 "1999-10-08T00:51:00Z")
## For more on symmetric words and calligraphy, take a look at this site: [http://www.scottkim.com/](http://www.scottkim.com/) . Bob the Random Expert “If we don’t have the answer, we’ll make one up.” ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 1999, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversible-words/1246/6 "1999-10-22T16:13:00Z")
## BTW fheaney, I assume you’ve noticed by now that your “semordnilap(s)” is palindrome spelled backward. My favorite palindrome is racecar. A man, a plan, a canal: Panama. Nurse, I spy gypsies. Run! ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 1999, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversible-words/1246/7 "1999-10-22T16:17:00Z")
“Son I am able,” she said “though you scare me.” “Watch,” said I “beloved,” I said “watch me scare you though.” Said she, “able am I, son.”