Wow… Palindromes!

By Ana Jimena Hernandez

Learning English is an exciting adventure. Languages in general have a lot of curiosities that make the learning process more attractive. In English there are some words or phrases we can read the same backward as forward, which is funny sometimes and surprising in some moments.

According to Oxford English Dictionary, Palindromes date back at least to early 17th century “from Greek palindromos ‘running back again’, from palin ‘again’ + drom- (from dramein ‘to run’)” and It is remarkable for the fact that the letters of the word can be read in two different ways, from left to right or from right to left.

To begin with palindromes can be just words such as Anna, Noon or Rotator. However, it is possible to write different types of palindromes, according to the intention you have. Sentence-length palindromes can be written punctuation, and word dividers, such as “Was it a car or a cat I saw?” or “Murder for a jar of red rum”.

Palindromes are seeing in words, numbers, names and phrases and they are a unique and amusing way to practice English.

Here are some examples of palindromes that you can use to have fun surprising your friends:

A Santa dog lived as a devil God at NASA.
Aibohphobia (fear of palindromes)
Cigar? Toss it in a can. It is so tragic.
Dammit, I’m mad!
Desserts I desire not, so long no lost one rise distressed.
Dumb mud.
Flee to me, remote elf.
God! A red nugget! A fat egg under a dog!
Golf? No sir, prefer prison-flog.
Hannah
Kay, a red nude, peeped under a yak.
Lisa Bonet ate no basil.
level
Ma has a ham
Mad as Adam.
Marge lets Norah see Sharon’s telegram.
Madame, not one man is selfless; I name not one, madam.
mom
Name now one man.
No lemon, no melon.
No, Sir, panic is a basic in a prison.
Norma is as selfless as I am, Ron.
Nurses run.
Race fast, safe car!
Red rum, sir, is murder.
Rise to vote sir.
Step on no pets.
Stressed? No tips? Spit on desserts.
Sir, I’m Iris.
Ten animals I slam in a net.
Todd erases a red dot.
Too hot to hoot.
We panic in a pew.
We sew.
Wonders in Italy, Latin is red now.