History Main / FunWithPalindromes

Palindrome is a word sequence that can be read backwards but remains the same. Just as writers like to play with [[SignificantAnagram anagrams]], [[FunWithAcronyms acronyms and initialisms]], so indeed do they seize opportunities to use palindromes. However, since it's hard to come up with a palindrome--let alone a meaningful one--it's unlikely to be a plot point, and is usually a result of the RuleOfFun.

--> "Tim, Amit. Palindromic pals."

--->"Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age"
--->"Man o nam"

--->"'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.'"
--->"Dad palindrome dad, I palindrome I"

[[folder:Radio ]]

---> "My name's Hannah. That's a palindrome. [...] My entire family have palindromic names. We've got [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Mum, Dad, Nan, Pop]]...
---> ... and [[BaitAndSwitchComment my brother Kayak]]."

* A ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comic had Mr. Mxyzptlk changing his name to Mxypyxm so he couldn't be tricked into saying his name backwards. Though that would [[HoistByHisOwnPetard ''technically'' mean saying his name would ''always'' be saying it backwards.]]

* The third case of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' has Blue Screens Inc., a computer firm where all of the employees have palindromes for names. %%should this be in visual novels instead?

* A 2011 issue of the comic book ''ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}'' had the sorceress (who pronounces the words in her spells backwards) going up against a villain with time-reversal powers, that allowed him to negate her spells by having them sound like normal words. She got around his powers by casting spells in palindromes (such as "Nurses Run" causing him to be stampeded by an army of running nurses). Other palindrome spells she has cast include summoning a racecar, and "Egad! Nobody do bondage!" to untie herself. She lampshades it before casting the spell "Ogre flog a golfer, go!" to conjure an ogre to throttle the villain, who's [[InstantCosplaySurprise suddenly dressed up like a golfer]].

[[folder:Film]]

* A ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comic had Mr. Mxyzptlk changing his name to Mxypyxm so he couldn't be tricked into saying his name backwards. Though that would mean saying his name would ''always'' be saying it backwards.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'': Seres's name is a palindrome.

* "Aibohphobia" is a joke word for the fear of palindromes. Obviously, this is not an actual medical condition.

* The word for a fear or distaste for palindromes was deliberately constructed to be "aibohphobia."
* "Able was I. I saw Elba." ~Napoleon Bonaparte

* Otto Tibbit (and his sister Hannah) in ''Literature/NurseryCrime''.

* The third case of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'' has Blue Screens Inc., a computer firm where all of the employees have palindromes for names.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages]]'' features Symmetry City, whose survival depends on the total equality between the two sides. The name of the artifact that maintains the balance? Tuni nut!