Inverted Words (倒語)
The word “verlan” is the French phrase “à l’envers (upside down)” with its syllables inverted, and it is used in English to refer to the phenomenon of syllable inversion. In Japanese, this is known as 倒語, which are more widely known as 逆読み・逆さ読み・逆さ言葉.
Such inversions have existed in Japanese for millennia, and they are a major source of group lingo1 (隠語), and on occasion, they can even result in the coining of new words with nuance(s) removed from their un-inverted form. Historically, inverted word forms reached their peak in the Edo Period. During this time, expressions popular this day such as the following were coined.
| Original Meaning | Un-inverted Form | New Meaning | Inverted Form |
| Seed/subject matter | たね | (Joke) material Ingredient | ねた |
| Slovenly | だらしない | Slovenly | しだらない |
Historic Examples
Notable historic examples of lexicalized 倒語 include the following:
・験を担ぐ: Meaning “to be superstitious,” 験 in the expression is believed to have derived from an inversion of 縁起 meaning “omen.”
・デカ: Kimono-wearing police officers in the Meiji Period were known as 角袖巡査, and the phrase デカ derives from the inversion of the middle morae. Overtime, this phrase became extended to mean “detective” in general, which is how it is used in the present day.
・ポシャる: Deriving from シャッポを脱ぐ meaning “to throw off one’s hat (in surrender),” this phrase more loosely translates nowadays as “to fizzle/break down.”
倒語 in Brand Names
Inversions are commonly implemented in brand names and logos.
| 倒語 | Source Word | Description |
| HAKUBI | 美白 | Music band |
| バソキ屋 | 焼きそば | Yakisoba chain |
| エザック | 風邪 | Cold medicine |
ズージャ語
A notable subset of inversions found in Japanese are attributed to vocabulary known as ズージャ語, with ズージャ itself being an inversion of “jazz.” This sort of wordplay reached its height in the 1980s when it was associated with showbiz, most notably the jazz bands that would play at American military bases. The examples below are those which have survived to some degree to the present.
・マイウー: From うまい meaning “delicious.”
・パイセン: From 先輩 for “one’s superior/senpai.”
・ギロッポン: From 六本木 meaning “Roppongi.”
・グラサン: From サングラス meaning “sunglasses.”
・デーハー: From 派手 meaning “showy.”
・パツキン: From 金髪 meaning “blond(e).”
・ワイハ: From ハワイ meaning “Hawaii.”
・クリソツ: From そっくり meaning “spot-on.”
・パイオツ: From おっぱい meaning “boobs.”
Reading Sentences Backwards for Comedic Effect
A common pass time for many is coming up with sentences, sometimes nonsensical, which when read backwards, reveal a hidden, often funny, message.
- 雲雲崖にこんち旅なし: Though nonsensical, when read backwards, the resulting phrase is: しなびたちんこに毛がもくもく (hair all over a shriveled penis).
- 問屋の米を買いたい買いたい: Though literally “I want to buy rice from the wholesaler,” when read backwards, the resulting phrase is: 痛い痛いおめこのやいと (ouch, ouch, vagina moxibustion).
- 「予想」は「嘘よ」: “Predictions” are “lies.”
- 手袋を反対から言ってごらん！: “Say ‘”‘てぶくろ (gloves)’ backwards!” refers to how when said backwards, the person being pranked will be hit six times.
- 隠語 generally hold negative connotations in Japanese society, as the necessity to obfuscate one’s language leads to questioning the speaker’s intent. For the purpose of recognizing these inverted word forms, such social implications are omitted. ↩︎