Concept in Definition ABC

Some phrases are striking not because of their contents but because they can be read indistinctly from left to right and from right to left, that is, at right and backwards. This curiosity of the language receives a denomination, palindrome. The word palindrome comes from the Greek and literally means to return by the same path (palín means to return and dromos means path).

A form of entertainment with the words that were already practiced by Greeks and Romans

We could understand palindromes as a entertainment of language that reveals a singularity when combining words. It should be noted that it is not a invention recent but already in Ancient Greece and Rome there was a fondness for this type of phrase.

Although palindromes are an exercise in language, it should not be forgotten that numbers also have the same uniqueness with figures capicúa (43234 would be a capicúa number) and certain forms of nature offer sequences similar to palindromes (for example, some sequences in the

DNA). On the other hand, there are many words that also have the palindrome effect (we are, bear, eye, alone or recognize).

Palindromes exist in most languages

In Spanish we can highlight some of them: "Sara soap will not come down", "up the beer", "Ana la galana", "Ramón y Omar", "the chip will recognize your rival", "she will give you details", "we are or we are not" and others Many. As you can see, these original combinations of words are a curiosity of the language.

Palindrome fans often make a joke about their origin and claim that the first of them was said by Adam when he addressed Eva saying "Madam, I'm Adam." Sometimes these word combinations are used by writers as a species wink aimed at readers (writers like Borges or Cortázar were fond of palindromes).

The "usefulness" of palindromes

While palindromes are eye-catching and original, someone might think which are strictly useless, since they do not provide any relevant information. However, it is possible to understand palindromes as a way of awakening interest in language, especially in children.

Do not forget that the aspect playful language also incorporates a formative part, as with crossword puzzles, hieroglyphs, word searches, as well as other "games" with words (for example, greguerías).

Photos: iStock - shironosov / Minerva Studio

Themes in Palindrome