Can You Read the Word If We Give It to You Upside Down?

Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Read the Word If We Give It to You Upside Down?
Image: olaser / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Forget the claims of dubious Facebook posts that promise people who can read upside down are geniuses. Yes, it's a fun idea, but it's just not based on any real research. But don't worry - the actual research on upside-down reading is way more interesting anyway. Turns out, reading words upside down significantly improves your memories of what you read, according to a 2011 study published in the "Psychonomic Bulletin and Review."

Even better, inverted reading is a skill at which almost anyone can improve. This was revealed in a 2014 study that found people improved upside-down reading speed by 35 words per minute over 10 weeks by merely practicing this technique for 90 minutes a week. Do you want to know what's even more fascinating? Turning a book over before reading improved reading speed and comprehension for 60% of troubled readers - those with poor reading skills or learning disabilities - according to a 1984 study published in the "Annals of Dyslexia."

Ready to see if you've got what it takes to master reading words that have been turned on their heads? Find out with this quiz!

alien
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It would be totally "out of this world" if you could read the upside-down word shown here. Do you know what it says?
Tailed
Alien
Unable
Aimed
defended
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There's a reason the men who fought at the Battle of the Alamo are so revered. If you know what they accomplished, we bet you can decipher this word.
Fouled
Founded
Folded
Defended
wow
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We would be astounded, astonished and amazed if you can read this overturned word. Do you know what it says?
Mom
Mow
Won
Wow

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flawed
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Are you ready to take a guess at what these flipped over letters say? Do your best, but remember, nobody's perfect.
Fawned
Friend
Flawed
Drawl
walled
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Don't put up your defenses! Relax and use your deductive skills to figure out this inverted word.
Drawl
Walled
Mailed
Dealed
deer
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Put on your thinking antlers for extra help in deciphering this overturned word.
Read
Deer
Reed
Reel

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Speeded
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Think fast if you want to guess the word shown in this image!
Spend
Deepest
Slept
Speeded
Driven
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Buckle up and hold on tight before you take a guess at this upside down term.
Driven
Riveted
Directed
Vented
Panda
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Do you know what this bottoms-up word says? It's black and white, but not red all over.
Dancer
Handed
Banded
Panda

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Webbed
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If we tell you that this word describes the feet of a duck, would that make it easier to guess the right answer?
Dreaded
Bedded
Wedded
Webbed
Rained
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Sure, the letters have been tipped on their heads, but can you still make out this word? Warning! You might need your umbrella.
Drained
Nailed
Rained
Detain
Dreamed
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When Susan Boyle surprised everyone with that "Britain's Got Talent" audition in 2009, this word was in the title of her song. Can you read it?
Demanded
Dreamed
Learned
Admired

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Railroad
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We think you can; we think you can guess this word that has been tipped over! Do you think you can?
Railroad
Doorknob
Baliff
Mailman
Heart
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You don't need to use your head for this one, but another body part might help you figure it out. What is this word?
Hand
Treat
Heart
Hearing
Bottled
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Have a sip of your favorite beverage before trying to figure out the overturned word shown here. Do you recognize it?
Totaled
Debated
Toppled
Bottled

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Maintain
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Got a car? It'll last longer if you make sure to do what this bottom-side-up word is telling you to do.
Maintain
Inspect
Upgrade
Repair
Nugget
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Trust us, you wouldn't mind finding one of these, but first, you have to figure out what this word says. Do you think you can read it?
Table
Nugget
Luggage
Timepiece
Dark
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Don't be afraid! Pull the covers away from your face and try to guess this flip-flopped word.
Park
Bark
Carp
Dark

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Knees
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You don't need an anatomy lesson to translate this word that is turned on its head. Do you know what it is?
Seeker
Knees
Keen
Sneeky
Madam
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What is this upside-down word, which was once used to describe both Heidi Fleiss and Deborah Jeane Palfrey?
Madman
Madam
Wand
Wedded
Reeled
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We've got a whopper of a tale for you, but first take a shot at reading this word that's facing the wrong direction.
Dealer
Leaded
Detailed
Reeled

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Memory
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Try to read this word that has been written in an unexpected way. Hint: It shares its name with a kids' game!
Memory
Monopoly
Candyland
Sorry
Flipped
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The text you see here describes what the letters themselves have done. Do you know what it says?
Ripped
Tripped
Flipped
Dipped
Bird
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Pirate pets can read this word, but can you?
Dirt
Bird
Blip
Ride

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Imagine
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The inverted word shown here is also the title of a song by John Lennon. Do you know what it says?
Imagine
Woman
Yesterday
Blackbird
Puzzled
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Are you perplexed by this word that's written on its head? Don't be confused, baffled, or bewildered. Take a closer look and guess what it says!
Puzzled
Doubled
Upended
Provided
Money
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If we tell you it's Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman's favorite subject, could you decipher this inverted word?
Honey
Funny
Money
Rowed

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Dragon
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What word is shown in this image? Hint: "Eragon" was about one of these.
Dragon
Monster
Unicorn
Panda
Midway
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When you need a break from the rides at the county fair, you head to the spot shown in this image. Can you read it?
Exit
Midway
Carousel
Stable
Based
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Without craning your neck, can you puzzle out this word written in an unfamiliar way?
Debased
Based
Dated
Passed

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Drizzle
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When you hear this word, it's probably in the context of weather or food. Even though it's upside down, can you read it?
Dazzling
Puzzle
Delicious
Drizzle
Napping
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If you can't read this word, try counting sheep first, then give it another shot.
Dabbing
Grabbing
Napping
Bagging
Wound
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Make sure you know where the first aid kit is before trying to guess this word that's written bottom side up.
Mound
Wound
Worded
Drown

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Unicorn
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A horse is a horse, of course, but what does the upside-down word in this image say?
Unicorn
Unkind
Incense
Reported
Metal
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Decipher this inverted text to discover a material used in crafting jewelry.
Pewter
Silver
Metal
Stones
Yellow
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ROYGBIV could probably give you a hint to this upside-down term. Do you know what it is?
Yellow
Meadow
Dwelled
Folly

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Pickup
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It's a guitar part or a type of ride, but can you tell what this word is, even though it's inverted?
Fret
Pickup
Moped
Body
Balloon
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Take a deep breath and see if you can guess this word, which refers to a fun and colorful object.
Necklace
Ball
Umbrella
Balloon
Dozen
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We'll give you exactly 12 guesses to decipher this turned over word. OK, maybe 13 if you like to bake.
Carton
Dozed
Dozen
Nozzle

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Nickel
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If we tell you this word is an element with the atomic number 28, could you guess it without standing on your head?
Nickel
Cadmium
Helium
Neon