Learn the Alphabet Backwards

Chances are you’ve known the alphabet from front to back since you were a child. When you try reciting the alphabet in reverse, you find that it’s not so easy. Because you’re not used to it, the letter order doesn’t come to you naturally. The good news, though, is that by using simple mnemonic or memory tricks such as choosing words that start with each letter, imagining those words, and combining them into a story, you can learn the alphabet backwards without much difficulty.

Steps

Forming a Story out of Letter Words

  1. Assign words for the letters. Many children learn the alphabet by linking words and images to the letters, but you can do the same for each letter, assign a word that starts with that letter. For example, let “m” stand for mouse and “l” stand for log. Try to choose words you can imagine as vividly as possible.[1]
    • It’s okay if you can’t think of the right word just yet. When you start rehearsing the letters, you may find words that work better for you.
  2. Make a story out of the words. Working from Z to A, combine your words. Make the words flow into one another when you can. For instance, you can think of a mouse leaping onto a log next to a king, who jumps up with his ice cream. The keywords in your story, such as mouse and log, will tell you that the letter order is m, l, k, j, i.[2]
    • While some people can learn the alphabet backwards by simply recalling a list of words, creating a vivid story is a more powerful mnemonic device.
  3. Visualize your story. As you go through the story, try to imagine it in as much detail as possible. The more vivid the images, the more easily you’ll recall what comes next. Refine the words you use as you go to make your story more memorable to yourself.[2]
  4. Recite the story. Once you have a concrete story imagined, start at Z and go all the way to A. Recall and visualize each word, taking out the letters starting the keywords when you reach them. With practice, you’ll be able to recite the alphabet backwards.

Chunking Letters

  1. Combine letters. Chunking is a mnemonic device that helps you remember groups of letters. Look at the alphabet backwards. Notice whatever letters go together to form words. For example, f, e, d are all in a row. The word “fed” is easier to remember than the individual letters.[3]
    • This is similar to combining words except you’re combining letters without initial images. Because it doesn’t involve as many images, it may increase your recall speed.
  2. Fill in the gaps for difficult sequences. Some letter sequences won’t translate directly to words like “fed.” To do this, try a more creative approach. One way to do is to make a sound out of the letters. For example, VUTS might make a sound like an electrical current. Do whatever is most memorable to you.[4]
    • Another way is to fill in the gaps with individual words. While WVUT can relate to West Virginia, Utah, RQP can relate to running to the queue and taking your place.
  3. Visualize a story. Combine all mnemonics together. The more you are able to link the letters into vivid images, the more easily you’ll recall them. For instance, if you remember MLKJIHG as Martin Luther King doing a jig, you’ll instantly recall those six letters instead of trying to recall them one at a time.
  4. Add a melody to the words. Many people use the alphabet song to remember the alphabet forwards. You can do this to learn the alphabet backwards. Speak the letters or the words. Use the tones of the letters or words to create your song.
    • Even if you only recite the letters with a simple but consistent melody, this strengthens your memory.[5]
  5. Recite your story. Once you’ve found a way to combine all the letters of the alphabet into a story, practice with it. It can take some editing and rehearsal to make the story feel memorable. Recall each part of the story one word at a time. When a significant word comes up, pull out the next letters in the alphabet.

Tips

  • Practice often until the story you create sticks in your mind.
  • Use your creativity to make a unique story you’ll be able to easily visualize and recall to memorize the letter order.
  • These same memory tricks apply to any alphabet in the world.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.braingle.com/mind/183.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.real-memory-improvement.com/the-alphabet-list.html
  3. ↑ http://www.virtualsalt.com/learn1.html
  4. ↑ http://nextgen.yourhub.com/article/one-easiest-ways-learn-alphabet-backwards
  5. ↑ https://www.learningassistance.com/2006/january/mnemonics.html
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