Palindromes Quiz
Instructions: Test your knowledge of words and phrases that read the same forwards and backwards!
- 1.
Which of these words is a palindrome?
ALevelBLabelCLeverDRiver - 2.
Which of these words is a palindrome?
AMoonBNoonCSoonDBoon - 3.
Which of these is a palindrome?
AFaceBRacecarCRaceDRacer - 4.
Which of these words is a palindrome?
ADadBMomCNeitherDBoth 'Dad' and 'Mom' - 5.
Which of these words is a palindrome?
AKayakBYachtCRaftDCanoe - 6.
Which famous palindrome phrase is attributed (probably falsely) to Napoleon?
A"Was it a car or a cat I saw?"B"A man, a plan, a canal: Panama"C"Able was I ere I saw Elba"D"Never odd or even" - 7.
Which of these words is a palindrome?
AInferBReferCPreferDDefer - 8.
Which of these is a palindromic phrase (ignoring spaces and punctuation)?
A"Actions speak louder than words"B"Was it a car or a cat I saw"C"The early bird catches the worm"D"Time flies fast" - 9.
Which of these words is a palindrome?
ALividBVividCCivilDCivic - 10.
Which of these words is a palindrome?
AMotorBStatorCTutorDRotor - 11.
Which famous palindrome relates to the construction of a waterway?
A"A man, a plan, a canal: Panama"B"Go hang a salami, I'm a lasagna hog"C"Do geese see God?"D"Mr. Owl ate my metal worm" - 12.
Which of these words is a palindrome?
ADeifiedBDefinedCDeniedDDefied - 13.
What is the term for a number that reads the same forwards and backwards (like 12321)?
AA reflexive numberBA palindromic numberCA symmetric numberDA prime number - 14.
Which of these is a palindrome?
AReviverBReviserCRelieverDReviewer - 15.
What is the longest single-word palindrome commonly found in English dictionaries?
ARedividerBRotavatorCRacecarDDeified
Answer Key
'Level' is a palindrome — it reads the same forwards (L-E-V-E-L) and backwards (L-E-V-E-L). It is one of the most common palindromes in everyday English.
'Noon' reads the same forwards and backwards: N-O-O-N. It has been a palindrome since Old English, derived from the Latin 'nona hora' (ninth hour).
'Racecar' is a famous palindrome: R-A-C-E-C-A-R reads the same forwards and backwards. It is one of the longest common single-word palindromes.
Both 'Dad' (D-A-D) and 'Mom' (M-O-M) are palindromes! These familiar family words read the same forwards and backwards.
'Kayak' is a palindrome: K-A-Y-A-K. The word comes from the Inuit language and refers to a small, narrow watercraft.
"Able was I ere I saw Elba" is a famous palindrome attributed to Napoleon, referring to his exile to the island of Elba. While he almost certainly never said it, it perfectly captures his story.
'Refer' is a palindrome: R-E-F-E-R reads the same forwards and backwards. It comes from the Latin 'referre' meaning to carry back.
"Was it a car or a cat I saw" is a palindrome when you ignore spaces and punctuation: wasitacaroracatisaw reads the same in both directions.
'Civic' is a palindrome: C-I-V-I-C reads the same forwards and backwards. It comes from the Latin 'civicus,' relating to a citizen or city.
'Rotor' is a palindrome: R-O-T-O-R. It refers to a rotating part of a machine, and the word itself rotates perfectly in spelling!
"A man, a plan, a canal: Panama" is one of the most famous palindromes in English, referring to the building of the Panama Canal. It was coined by Leigh Mercer in 1948.
'Deified' is a palindrome: D-E-I-F-I-E-D. Meaning 'made into a god,' it is one of the longest common English palindromes at seven letters.
A palindromic number reads the same forwards and backwards, just like a word palindrome. Examples include 11, 121, 1331, and 12321.
'Reviver' is a palindrome: R-E-V-I-V-E-R. At seven letters, it is one of the longest common English word palindromes, meaning one who revives.
'Redivider' (one who redivides) at nine letters is often cited as the longest common single-word palindrome in English: R-E-D-I-V-I-D-E-R.