HomeBlogAbout UsWorkContentContact Us
 
 Advertisment 

Mirror words

Palindromes are words that a spelled the same backwards and forwards, like REDIVIDER, ROTATOR and MINIM.

There is another set of interesting words; I'll call them Mirror Words.

Mirror words are not palindromes, but when written backwards also spells a legitimate English word. For instance DESSERTS spelled backwards is STRESSED, and WARTS turns into STRAW.

(Of course true palindromic words are also in this set, as they spell a legal word backwards. Albeit the same one!)

Below is a table (in descending order of length) of English mirror words.

RATS LIVE ON NO EVIL STAR

Many years ago I spent my summers as a counselor at a kids computer camp.

Amongst other things, we’d teach kids computer programming. One of the standard tasks to give the kids was to write a program to allow the user to input a string, then reverse it and print it out.

NICK IS COOL = LOOC SI KCIN

Each of them would scurry away to their BBC Micro, write code, test it, then call me over to demonstrate their code working. I’d try to play a trick on them by testing it out and typing:

RATS LIVE ON NO EVIL STAR

To which the output would be the same. “Hang on a minute”, I’d say, “it’s not working correctly, I think you have bug in your code!”

I wish I had a dollar for each person who had to do a double-take before smiling …

The results

WordDrowLen
DESSERTSSTRESSED8
REDRAWERREWARDER8
REWARDERREDRAWER8
STRESSEDDESSERTS8
DEIFIEDDEIFIED7
DEIFIERREIFIED7
DELIVERREVILED7
DESSERTTRESSED7
GATEMANNAMETAG7
HALALAHHALALAH7
NAMETAGGATEMAN7
REIFIEDDEIFIER7
REIFIERREIFIER7
REKNITSSTINKER7
REPAPERREPAPER7
REVILEDDELIVER7
REVIVERREVIVER7
ROTATORROTATOR7
SALLETSSTELLAS7
SEMEMESSEMEMES7
STELLASSALLETS7
STINKERREKNITS7
TRESSEDDESSERT7
AGENESSENEGA6
ANIMALLAMINA6
ANIMESSEMINA6
DEGAMIIMAGED6
DENIERREINED6
DENIESSEINED6
DENNEDDENNED6
DEPOTSSTOPED6
DERATSSTARED6
DEWANSSNAWED6
DIALERRELAID6
DIAPERREPAID6
DORMINNIMROD6
DRAWERREWARD6
ELIDESSEDILE6
EVILERRELIVE6
GELDERREDLEG6
HALLAHHALLAH6
IMAGEDDEGAMI6
LAMINAANIMAL6
LEVINSSNIVEL6
LOOTERRETOOL6
MARRAMMARRAM6
NIMRODDORMIN6
PULLUPPULLUP6
PUPILSSLIPUP6
RECAPSSPACER6
REDDERREDDER6
REDIPSSPIDER6
REDLEGGELDER6
REDRAWWARDER6
REFLETTELFER6
REFLOWWOLFER6
REINEDDENIER6
REKNITTINKER6
RELAIDDIALER6
RELIVEEVILER6
REMEETTEEMER6
RENNETTENNER6
REPAIDDIAPER6
REPINSSNIPER6
REPOTSSTOPER6
RETOOLLOOTER6
RETROSSORTER6
REWARDDRAWER6
SCARESSERACS6
SECRETTERCES6
SEDILEELIDES6
SEINEDDENIES6
SELAHSSHALES6
SELLESSELLES6
SEMINAANIMES6
SENEGAAGENES6
SERACSSCARES6
SHALESSELAHS6
SKEETSSTEEKS6
SLEEPSSPEELS6
SLEETSSTEELS6
SLIPUPPUPILS6
SLOOPSSPOOLS6
SNAWEDDEWANS6
SNIPERREPINS6
SNIVELLEVINS6
SNOOPSSPOONS6
SORTERRETROS6
SPACERRECAPS6
SPEELSSLEEPS6
SPIDERREDIPS6
SPIRTSSTRIPS6
SPOOLSSLOOPS6
SPOONSSNOOPS6
SPORTSSTROPS6
SPRITSSTIRPS6
STAREDDERATS6
STEEKSSKEETS6
STEELSSLEETS6
STIRPSSPRITS6
STOPEDDEPOTS6
STOPERREPOTS6
STRIPSSPIRTS6
STROPSSPORTS6
STRUTSSTURTS6
STURTSSTRUTS6
TEEMERREMEET6
TELFERREFLET6
TENNERRENNET6
TERCESSECRET6
TERRETTERRET6
TINKERREKNIT6
WARDERREDRAW6
WOLFERREFLOW6
AIDERREDIA5
AIRTSSTRIA5
ALULAALULA5
ANGERREGNA5
ARRISSIRRA5
CARESSERAC5
CIVICCIVIC5
DEBUTTUBED5
DECAFFACED5
DECALLACED5
DEDALLADED5
DEEPSSPEED5
DEETSSTEED5
DEFERREFED5
DEKEDDEKED5
DELEDDELED5
DEMITTIMED5
DENIMMINED5
DEPOTTOPED5
DERATTARED5
DEVASSAVED5
DEVILLIVED5
DEWEDDEWED5
DEXESSEXED5
DINARRANID5
DIOLSSLOID5
DOSERRESOD5
DRAILLIARD5
DRAWSSWARD5
EDILEELIDE5
ELIDEEDILE5
EMITSSTIME5
ERVILLIVRE5
FACEDDECAF5
FIRESSERIF5
GNATSSTANG5
GNAWSSWANG5
HABUSSUBAH5
HALESSELAH5
KAIAKKAIAK5
KAYAKKAYAK5
KEELSSLEEK5
KEETSSTEEK5
KITHSSHTIK5
KNAPSSPANK5
KNITSSTINK5
KORATTAROK5
LACEDDECAL5
LADEDDEDAL5
LAGERREGAL5
LARESSERAL5
LARUMMURAL5
LEETSSTEEL5
LEPERREPEL5
LEVELLEVEL5
LEVERREVEL5
LIARDDRAIL5
LIVEDDEVIL5
LIVREERVIL5
LOONSSNOOL5
LOOPSSPOOL5
LOOTSSTOOL5
LOTOSSOTOL5
MADAMMADAM5
MARCSSCRAM5
METERRETEM5
MINEDDENIM5
MINIMMINIM5
MURALLARUM5
MURESSERUM5
MUTONNOTUM5
NAMERREMAN5
NEVESSEVEN5
NOLOSSOLON5
NONETTENON5
NOTESSETON5
NOTUMMUTON5
PACERRECAP5
PARTSSTRAP5
PEELSSLEEP5
POOLSSLOOP5
POONSSNOOP5
PORTSSTROP5
PURISSIRUP5
RADARRADAR5
RANIDDINAR5
REBUSSUBER5
REBUTTUBER5
RECAPPACER5
REDESSEDER5
REDIAAIDER5
REFEDDEFER5
REFERREFER5
REGALLAGER5
REGNAANGER5
RELITTILER5
REMANNAMER5
REMITTIMER5
REPELLEPER5
REPOTTOPER5
RESODDOSER5
RETEMMETER5
REVELLEVER5
ROTORROTOR5
SAGASSAGAS5
SAROSSORAS5
SAVEDDEVAS5
SCRAMMARCS5
SEDERREDES5
SEEKSSKEES5
SELAHHALES5
SEMESSEMES5
SERACCARES5
SERALLARES5
SERESSERES5
SERIFFIRES5
SERUMMURES5
SETONNOTES5
SEVENNEVES5
SEXEDDEXES5
SEXESSEXES5
SHAHSSHAHS5
SHTIKKITHS5
SIRRAARRIS5
SIRUPPURIS5
SKEESSEEKS5
SKIPSSPIKS5
SLEEKKEELS5
SLEEPPEELS5
SLEETTEELS5
SLOIDDIOLS5
SLOOPPOOLS5
SMARTTRAMS5
SMUTSSTUMS5
SNAPSSPANS5
SNAWSSWANS5
SNIPSSPINS5
SNOOLLOONS5
SNOOPPOONS5
SNOOTTOONS5
SOLONNOLOS5
SOLOSSOLOS5
SORASSAROS5
SOTOLLOTOS5
SPANKKNAPS5
SPANSSNAPS5
SPEEDDEEPS5
SPIKSSKIPS5
SPINSSNIPS5
SPIRTTRIPS5
SPOOLLOOPS5
SPOTSSTOPS5
SPRATTARPS5
STANGGNATS5
STATSSTATS5
STEEDDEETS5
STEEKKEETS5
STEELLEETS5
STETSSTETS5
STIMEEMITS5
STINKKNITS5
STOOLLOOTS5
STOPSSPOTS5
STOWSSWOTS5
STRAPPARTS5
STRAWWARTS5
STRIAAIRTS5
STROPPORTS5
STROWWORTS5
STUMSSMUTS5
SUBAHHABUS5
SUBERREBUS5
SULUSSULUS5
SWANGGNAWS5
SWANSSNAWS5
SWARDDRAWS5
SWOTSSTOWS5
TAREDDERAT5
TAROKKORAT5
TARPSSPRAT5
TEELSSLEET5
TENETTENET5
TENONNONET5
TILERRELIT5
TIMEDDEMIT5
TIMERREMIT5
TOONSSNOOT5
TOPEDDEPOT5
TOPERREPOT5
TOROTTOROT5
TRAMSSMART5
TRIPSSPIRT5
TUBEDDEBUT5
TUBERREBUT5
WARTSSTRAW5
WORTSSTROW5
ABBAABBA4
ABUTTUBA4
ADOSSODA4
AGARRAGA4
AGASSAGA4
AJARRAJA4
ALIFFILA4
AMENNEMA4
AMISSIMA4
ANNAANNA4
ANONNONA4
ANTEETNA4
APODDOPA4
ARESSERA4
ARILLIRA4
ARUMMURA4
ATESSETA4
AUKSSKUA4
AVIDDIVA4
BALSSLAB4
BARDDRAB4
BATSSTAB4
BINSSNIB4
BIRDDRIB4
BLUBBULB4
BONKKNOB4
BOOBBOOB4
BOTSSTOB4
BOWSSWOB4
BRADDARB4
BRAGGARB4
BROSSORB4
BULBBLUB4
BUNSSNUB4
BURDDRUB4
BURGGRUB4
BUTSSTUB4
CEPSSPEC4
CITEETIC4
CRAMMARC4
DAHSSHAD4
DARBBRAD4
DARTTRAD4
DEEDDEED4
DEEMMEED4
DEEPPEED4
DEERREED4
DEESSEED4
DEETTEED4
DEILLIED4
DEKEEKED4
DELFFLED4
DELSSLED4
DENSSNED4
DIALLAID4
DIVAAVID4
DOOMMOOD4
DOORROOD4
DOPAAPOD4
DORPPROD4
DRABBARD4
DRAWWARD4
DRAYYARD4
DRIBBIRD4
DRUBBURD4
DUALLAUD4
DUELLEUD4
DUPSSPUD4
EDITTIDE4
EKEDDEKE4
EMESSEME4
EMIRRIME4
EMITTIME4
ENOLLONE4
ERGOOGRE4
EROSSORE4
ETASSATE4
ETICCITE4
ETNAANTE4
EVENNEVE4
EVILLIVE4
FILAALIF4
FLEDDELF4
FLOGGOLF4
FLOWWOLF4
FOOLLOOF4
GALSSLAG4
GARBBRAG4
GATSSTAG4
GIRTTRIG4
GNARRANG4
GNATTANG4
GNUSSUNG4
GOLFFLOG4
GORPPROG4
GRUBBURG4
GULPPLUG4
GULSSLUG4
GUMSSMUG4
GUNSSNUG4
HAHSSHAH4
HOOPPOOH4
IRONNORI4
KEEKKEEK4
KEELLEEK4
KEEPPEEK4
KIPSSPIK4
KNARRANK4
KNOBBONK4
KNOWWONK4
KOOKKOOK4
LAIDDIAL4
LAIRRIAL4
LAUDDUAL4
LEEKKEEL4
LEERREEL4
LEESSEEL4
LEETTEEL4
LEUDDUEL4
LIARRAIL4
LIEDDEIL4
LIONNOIL4
LIRAARIL4
LIVEEVIL4
LOBOOBOL4
LONEENOL4
LOOFFOOL4
LOOMMOOL4
LOOPPOOL4
LOOTTOOL4
MACSSCAM4
MAESSEAM4
MARCCRAM4
MARTTRAM4
MAWSSWAM4
MEEDDEEM4
MEETTEEM4
MILSSLIM4
MOODDOOM4
MOOLLOOM4
MOORROOM4
MOOTTOOM4
MURAARUM4
MUTSSTUM4
NAANNAAN4
NAPSSPAN4
NEEPPEEN4
NEMAAMEN4
NEVEEVEN4
NIPSSPIN4
NOILLION4
NONAANON4
NOONNOON4
NORIIRON4
NUTSSTUN4
OBOLLOBO4
OGREERGO4
OOHSSHOO4
OTTOOTTO4
PALSSLAP4
PANSSNAP4
PARTTRAP4
PAWSSWAP4
PEEDDEEP4
PEEKKEEP4
PEENNEEP4
PEEPPEEP4
PEESSEEP4
PETSSTEP4
PINSSNIP4
PLUGGULP4
POLSSLOP4
POOHHOOP4
POOLLOOP4
POOPPOOP4
PORTTROP4
POTSSTOP4
POWSSWOP4
PRATTARP4
PRODDORP4
PROGGORP4
RAGAAGAR4
RAILLIAR4
RAJAAJAR4
RANGGNAR4
RANKKNAR4
RAPSSPAR4
RATSSTAR4
REEDDEER4
REELLEER4
REESSEER4
RIALLAIR4
RIMEEMIR4
ROODDOOR4
ROOMMOOR4
SAGAAGAS4
SAPSSPAS4
SATEETAS4
SCAMMACS4
SEAMMAES4
SEEDDEES4
SEELLEES4
SEEPPEES4
SEERREES4
SEESSEES4
SEMEEMES4
SERAARES4
SETAATES4
SHADDAHS4
SHAHHAHS4
SHOOOOHS4
SIMAAMIS4
SIRSSRIS4
SKUAAUKS4
SLABBALS4
SLAGGALS4
SLAPPALS4
SLEDDELS4
SLIMMILS4
SLITTILS4
SLOPPOLS4
SLUGGULS4
SMUGGUMS4
SNAPPANS4
SNAWWANS4
SNEDDENS4
SNIBBINS4
SNIPPINS4
SNITTINS4
SNOTTONS4
SNOWWONS4
SNUBBUNS4
SNUGGUNS4
SODAADOS4
SORBBROS4
SOREEROS4
SPANNAPS4
SPARRAPS4
SPASSAPS4
SPATTAPS4
SPAYYAPS4
SPAZZAPS4
SPECCEPS4
SPIKKIPS4
SPINNIPS4
SPITTIPS4
SPOTTOPS4
SPUDDUPS4
SRISSIRS4
STABBATS4
STAGGATS4
STARRATS4
STATTATS4
STAWWATS4
STEPPETS4
STETTETS4
STEWWETS4
STOBBOTS4
STOPPOTS4
STOWWOTS4
STUBBUTS4
STUMMUTS4
STUNNUTS4
SULUULUS4
SUNGGNUS4
SWAMMAWS4
SWAPPAWS4
SWATTAWS4
SWAYYAWS4
SWOBBOWS4
SWOPPOWS4
SWOTTOWS4
TANGGNAT4
TAPSSPAT4
TARPPRAT4
TATSSTAT4
TAWSSWAT4
TEEDDEET4
TEELLEET4
TEEMMEET4
TETSSTET4
TIDEEDIT4
TILSSLIT4
TIMEEMIT4
TINSSNIT4
TIPSSPIT4
TONSSNOT4
TOOLLOOT4
TOOMMOOT4
TOOTTOOT4
TOPSSPOT4
TORTTROT4
TOWSSWOT4
TRADDART4
TRAMMART4
TRAPPART4
TRIGGIRT4
TROPPORT4
TROTTORT4
TROWWORT4
TUBAABUT4
ULUSSULU4
WANSSNAW4
WARDDRAW4
WATSSTAW4
WETSSTEW4
WOLFFLOW4
WONKKNOW4
WONSSNOW4
WORTTROW4
WOTSSTOW4
YAPSSPAY4
YARDDRAY4
YAWSSWAY4
ZAPSSPAZ4
ABAABA3
AGAAGA3
AHAAHA3
AIRRIA3
ALAALA3
AMAAMA3
ANAANA3
ARBBRA3
AREERA3
ATEETA3
AVAAVA3
AVOOVA3
AWAAWA3
BADDAB3
BAGGAB3
BALLAB3
BANNAB3
BASSAB3
BATTAB3
BEDDEB3
BENNEB3
BIBBIB3
BIDDIB3
BIGGIB3
BINNIB3
BISSIB3
BOBBOB3
BOGGOB3
BOSSOB3
BOYYOB3
BRAARB3
BROORB3
BUBBUB3
BUDDUB3
BUNNUB3
BURRUB3
BUSSUB3
BUTTUB3
CAMMAC3
CAPPAC3
CEPPEC3
CISSIC3
CODDOC3
CORROC3
DABBAD3
DADDAD3
DAGGAD3
DAHHAD3
DALLAD3
DAMMAD3
DAPPAD3
DAWWAD3
DEBBED3
DELLED3
DEWWED3
DIBBID3
DIDDID3
DIGGID3
DIMMID3
DOCCOD3
DOGGOD3
DOMMOD3
DONNOD3
DORROD3
DOSSOD3
DOTTOD3
DUBBUD3
DUDDUD3
DUOOUD3
DUPPUD3
EATTAE3
EELLEE3
EKEEKE3
EMEEME3
ERAARE3
EREERE3
ETAATE3
EVEEVE3
EWEEWE3
EYEEYE3
FERREF3
FIRRIF3
GABBAG3
GADDAG3
GAGGAG3
GALLAG3
GAMMAG3
GANNAG3
GARRAG3
GASSAG3
GATTAG3
GELLEG3
GETTEG3
GIBBIG3
GIDDIG3
GIGGIG3
GIPPIG3
GOBBOG3
GODDOG3
GOTTOG3
GULLUG3
GUMMUG3
GUTTUG3
GUVVUG3
HADDAH3
HAHHAH3
HAPPAH3
HAYYAH3
HEHHEH3
HEPPEH3
HEYYEH3
HONNOH3
HOPPOH3
HUHHUH3
JARRAJ3
KAYYAK3
LABBAL3
LADDAL3
LAGGAL3
LAPPAL3
LASSAL3
LEDDEL3
LEEEEL3
LEGGEL3
LETTEL3
LINNIL3
LITTIL3
LOPPOL3
LUGGUL3
MACCAM3
MADDAM3
MAGGAM3
MANNAM3
MAPPAM3
MARRAM3
MATTAM3
MAYYAM3
MEMMEM3
MHOOHM3
MIDDIM3
MIMMIM3
MIRRIM3
MISSIM3
MODDOM3
MOMMOM3
MONNOM3
MOPPOM3
MORROM3
MOTTOM3
MUGGUM3
MUMMUM3
MUSSUM3
NABBAN3
NAGGAN3
NAMMAN3
NANNAN3
NAPPAN3
NAWWAN3
NEBBEN3
NETTEN3
NEWWEN3
NIBBIN3
NILLIN3
NIPPIN3
NITTIN3
NODDON3
NOHHON3
NOMMON3
NOSSON3
NOTTON3
NOWWON3
NUBBUN3
NUNNUN3
NUSSUN3
NUTTUN3
OATTAO3
OHMMHO3
OHOOHO3
OOTTOO3
ORBBRO3
OUDDUO3
OVAAVO3
OXOOXO3
PACCAP3
PADDAP3
PAHHAP3
PALLAP3
PAMMAP3
PANNAP3
PAPPAP3
PARRAP3
PASSAP3
PATTAP3
PAWWAP3
PAYYAP3
PECCEP3
PEHHEP3
PEPPEP3
PERREP3
PIGGIP3
PINNIP3
PIPPIP3
PISSIP3
PITTIP3
POHHOP3
POLLOP3
POMMOP3
POPPOP3
POTTOP3
POWWOP3
PUDDUP3
PUPPUP3
PUSSUP3
PUTTUP3
RAGGAR3
RAJJAR3
RAMMAR3
RAPPAR3
RATTAR3
RAWWAR3
RAYYAR3
REFFER3
REPPER3
RESSER3
RIAAIR3
RIFFIR3
RIMMIR3
ROCCOR3
RODDOR3
ROMMOR3
ROTTOR3
RUBBUR3
SABBAS3
SAGGAS3
SALLAS3
SAPPAS3
SATTAS3
SAWWAS3
SERRES3
SIBBIS3
SICCIS3
SIMMIS3
SIPPIS3
SISSIS3
SITTIS3
SIXXIS3
SOBBOS3
SODDOS3
SONNOS3
SOSSOS3
SOWWOS3
SUBBUS3
SUMMUS3
SUNNUS3
SUPPUS3
TABBAT3
TAEEAT3
TAGGAT3
TAMMAT3
TAOOAT3
TAPPAT3
TARRAT3
TASSAT3
TATTAT3
TAVVAT3
TAWWAT3
TEGGET3
TELLET3
TENNET3
TETTET3
TEWWET3
TILLIT3
TINNIT3
TIPPIT3
TISSIT3
TITTIT3
TODDOT3
TOGGOT3
TOMMOT3
TONNOT3
TOOOOT3
TOPPOT3
TORROT3
TOTTOT3
TOWWOT3
TUBBUT3
TUGGUT3
TUNNUT3
TUPPUT3
TUTTUT3
ULUULU3
VATTAV3
VAVVAV3
VUGGUV3
WADDAW3
WANNAW3
WAPPAW3
WARRAW3
WASSAW3
WATTAW3
WAWWAW3
WAYYAW3
WEDDEW3
WENNEW3
WETTEW3
WONNOW3
WOPPOW3
WOSSOW3
WOTTOW3
WOWWOW3
XISSIX3
YAHHAY3
YAKKAY3
YAMMAY3
YAPPAY3
YARRAY3
YAWWAY3
YAYYAY3
YEHHEY3
YOBBOY3
AAAA2
ABBA2
AHHA2
ALLA2
AMMA2
ANNA2
ATTA2
AYYA2
BAAB2
DOOD2
EHHE2
EMME2
ENNE2
ERRE2
HAAH2
HEEH2
HOOH2
ISSI2
ITTI2
LAAL2
MAAM2
MEEM2
MMMM2
MOOM2
MUUM2
NAAN2
NEEN2
NOON2
NUUN2
ODDO2
OHHO2
OMMO2
ONNO2
OSSO2
OWWO2
OYYO2
REER2
SIIS2
SOOS2
TAAT2
TIIT2
UMMU2
UNNU2
WOOW2
YAAY2
YOOY2
AA1
II1

 

You can find a complete list of all the articles here.      Click here to receive email alerts on new articles.

© 2009-2013 DataGenetics