I've got banana and salad so far. I'm looking for longer, better words.

Sha Na Na immediately came to mind. Let me think...

abracadabra

I'm sorry, but I must specify: there must be an "a" in between each consonant. Sorry, I'm picky.

Ah I misread that part. There may be some on this page. I can't think of any now....that's hard!

sweet, thanks iconomy. I just found "bahamas" on that list!

and Canada, canasta, caravan.. woohoo.

best answer to iconomy.

:)

Bananaman.

Also: catamaran and maharajah (found them on the list iconomy linked to).

Bananarama! Inspired by Daniel Charms' answer...

Caravanarama! Catamaranarama!

hahahahahahahaha!

asshat

taramasalata

From here

I read a really terrible sci fi book by Alan Dean Foster that featured an alien named Abalamahalamatandra. That always stuck with me.

Bab
bab
Babar
babas
Bac
bac
bad
badan
bag
bagataway
bah
Baham
Bahamas
bahamas
bahan
bahar
bahay
Bajaj
Bajan
bajan
Bak
bakal
Bakatan
Bal
bal
Balac
balagan
Balak
Balan
Balas
balas
balat
balatas
bam
bamah
Ban
ban
banak
banal
bananas
Banaras
Banat
banat
Bap
bap
Bar
bar
Barabas
Barac
barad
Barajas
Barak
Baram
Baras
barat
Baray
bas
basad
basal
basan
basat
Bat
bat
batad
Batak
batakan
Batan
Batatas
Bav
baw
Bax
Bay
bay
bayal
Bayam
Bayar
Bazar
bazar
ca'
cab
Cabal
cabal
cabalas
caban
cabanas
cabas
Cacak
cacam
Cacan
cacas
Cad
cad
Cadal
caf
cag
Cagayan
cagayan
Cahan
Cajan
cajan
Cal
cal
Calabar
calabar
Calabasas
Calah
calahan
calamar
Calan
Calapan
Calas
Cam
cam
Camacan
Camag
Camak
caman
camanay
Camas
camas
camay
Can
can
Canad
canal
canap
cap
Capac
capataz
capax
Car
car
caracal
caracaras
Caracas
caracas
caraganas
Carajas
carap
carapax
Caras
carat
caravan
caraway
Carayan
Caraz
Cas
casabas
casal
Casar
casas
casavas
Cat
cat
Catalan
catalan
catamaran
catan
catapan
Cav
cav
caval
Cavan
caw
cay
Caz
dab
dad
dadap
dadas
Dadayag
Dag
dag
Dagan
dah
Dak
dak
Dakar
Dal
dal
dalan
dalar
Dalat
Dam
dam
Damal
Damalas
Daman
daman
Damar
damar
Damas
damas
Dan
dan
Danas
dap
Dar
dar
darac
daraf
darat
das
dat
datapac
Dav
daw
Dax
Day
day
Dayak
dayak
dayal
Dayan
dayan
fab
fac
facadal
fad
fag
Fagan
Fah
faham
fam
Fan
fan
fanal
fanam
faq
Far
far
farad
Faraday
faraday
Farah
faraway
fas
fat
Fatah
fatal
Fax
fax
Faxan
Fay
fay
Fayal
Gab
gab
Gabar
Gad
gad
Gag
gag
Gahan
gaj
Gal
gal
galah
Galahad
galahad
Galan
galanas
galas
Galax
galax
gam
Gamal
gamas
Gamay
gamay
Gan
gan
ganam
gap
Gar
gar
garad
Garamas
Garaway
gas
Gasan
Gat
gat
Gav
Gavan
Gaw
gaw
Gay
gay
gayal
gaz
ha'
Hab
hab
Habab
Had
had
hadal
Hadar
Hadas
hadaway
haf
Hag
hag
Hagaman
Hagan
Haganah
Hagar
hagar
hah
hahas
haj
Hak
hak
hakam
Hakan
Hal
Halaf
Halakah
halakah
halal
halalah
halalas
halas
halavah
Ham
ham
Hamadan
hamadas
Hamal
hamal
Haman
haman
Han
han
Hanan
hanap
hap
hapax
Harahan
haram
Harar
haras
has
Hasan
hasan
hat
hav
haw
Hax
Hay
hay
hazan
jab
Jabal
Jaban
Jac
jacal
jacamar
jacanas
jad
Jaf
jag
jagat
jah
jak
Jal
Jalalabad
jalap
Jam
jam
jamadar
Jamal
jaman
Jan
janapan
Jap
jap
Japan
japan
jar
Jarad
Jas
Jat
jat
Jav
Javan
javan
javas
jaw
jawab
Jawan
jawan
Jay
jay
kab
kabab
kabakas
kabalas
kabar
kabayas
Kadar
Kadayan
Kaf
kaf
kahar
Kajar
kajawah
Kakan
kakar
kakas
Kal
kal
kala-azar
kalam
kalan
Kalat
Kam
kam
Kamal
kamalas
Kamas
kamas
Kamat
Kamay
Kan
kan
Kanab
Kanal
kanap
Kanarak
kanas
kanat
kapas
karagan
Karajan
Karas
karat
Karatas
karatas
Kas
kas
Kat
kat
katakanas
Katar
katar
katat
Kataway
kavas
Kaw
kaw
Kay
kay
kayak
Kayan
kayan
Kaz
Kazak
Kazan
Lab
lab
Laban
LaBaw
lac
lacatan
Lad
lad
LaF
lag
lagan
Lagas
lah
lahar
Lajas
Lak
lak
lakatan
Lal
Lam
lam
Lamar
Lamas
lamas
Lan
lan
Lanagan
Lanam
lanas
lanaz
lap
Lapaz
Lar
lar
Las
las
Lasal
Lat
lat
Latah
latah
Latax
lav
Laval
lavalavas
lavas
Law
law
lax
Lay
lay
layaway
Laz
Lazar
lazar
ma'am
Mab
mab
Mac
mac
macadam
macan
Macap
Macapagal
macaw
Mad
mad
Madag
madam
Madaras
Mag
mag
Magan
Magas
magas
Mah
mahajan
mahal
mahalamat
Mahan
mahar
maharaj
maharajah
maharajas
maharawal
maharawat
mahat
Maj
majas
Mak
Makah
makar
Makasar
Mal
mal
Malabar
malabar
Malakal
malam
Malan
Malar
malar
malax
Malay
malay
Malayalam
malayalam
Malayan
malayan
Mam
mam
mamas
Man
man
manak
manal
mananas
manas
Manat
Map
map
Mar
mar
maracan
maracas
Maracay
marah
Maraj
marakapas
maral
maras
Marasar
Marat
maray
Mas
mas
Masan
Mat
mat
Matacan
matalan
Matapan
matapan
Matar
Matawan
matax
maw
Max
max
May
may
Mayag
Mayan
mayan
Mayas
mayas
nab
nabak
Nabal
nabal
Nabalas
nacarat
nad
Nadab
Nadabas
naf
nag
naganas
Nah
nah
Nahamas
nak
Nam
nam
Naman
namaz
Nan
nan
Nanak
nanas
Nap
nap
napal
nar
Narah
Narayan
nasab
nasal
nasat
Nat
nat
Natal
natal
nav
Naval
naval
navar
naw
nawab
Nay
nay
Nayar
Nazar
Pac
pac
pacas
pacay
PaD
pad
PaG
pagan
Pagas
pah
pajamas
Pakawan
Pal
pal
palar
palas
palatal
Palawan
palay
palayan
Pam
pam
Pan
pan
panadas
Panak
Panaman
panamas
panax
Panay
Panayan
pap
papagay
papal
papas
papaw
papayan
papayas
Par
par
parabasal
parah
param
Paran
paranasal
paras
Pas
pas
pasan
Pasay
Pat
pat
patacas
patamar
patapat
patas
pav
pavan
paw
pawaw
Pax
pax
pay
Paz
qaf
qanat
qat
Qatar
qatar
Rab
rab
Rabah
rabal
Rabat
rabat
Rad
rad
radar
Raf
Rafat
rag
Ragan
ragas
rah
Rahab
Rahal
Raj
raj
Rajab
rajab
Rajah
rajah
rajas
rakan
Ram
ram
Ramadan
ramadan
Ramah
ramal
Raman
ramanas
Ramazan
Ran
ran
ranal
Rap
rap
Ras
ras
Rasalas
rat
ratal
ratan
ratatat
raw
rax
Ray
ray
rayah
rayas
rayat
Sab
sab
Sabah
Sabal
Saban
Sac
sac
Sad
sad
sadaqat
Sadat
Safar
safar
sag
sagaman
sagan
sagas
sah
Saharan
saharan
saj
Sak
Sal
sal
salad
salal
salamat
Salar
salar
Salas
salat
salay
Salazar
Sam
sam
samaj
Samal
Saman
saman
Samar
samaras
Samas
San
san
sap
sapan
Sar
sar
sarabacan
Sarad
saraf
sarafan
Saragat
Sarah
sarah
Saran
saran
Saranac
Saravan
saravan
Sarawak
Sarawan
Sasak
sasan
Sat
sat
Satan
satan
Satanas
satanas
sataras
satay
sav
Saval
Saw
saw
sawah
Sawan
Sax
sax
Saxapahaw
Say
say
Sayal
Tab
tab
tabac
tacamahac
tacan
Tacanan
Tad
tad
tag
Tagal
tahar
taharah
taj
Tak
takar
Tal
tal
talak
talar
talas
Tam
tam
Tamah
tamal
Tamanac
Tamar
Tamarah
Tamas
tamas
Tan
tan
tanadar
Tanah
tanak
tanan
tap
Tapaj
tapas
tar
Tarabar
taraf
Tarah
taramas
Taran
taratah
Tas
tas
Tat
tat
Tatar
tatar
Tav
tav
taw
tax
Tay
tay
vac
vag
vagal
vagas
Val
val
Vaman
Van
van
Var
var
Varah
varahan
varan
varas
Vas
vas
vasal
Vat
vat
vav
vaw
vax
wa'
wab
Waban
Wac
wac
wad
Waf
waf
wag
wah
wakan
wakas
Wal
Wan
wan
Wanatah
wap
War
war
waratah
was
Wasat
Wat
wat
watap
waw
wawah
wax
Way
way
Wayan
xat
yacal
yad
yah
yahan
yak
Yakan
Yam
yam
Yan
yan
Yanan
Yap
yap
yar
Yarak
yarak
yaray
yas
yat
yatagan
Yavar
yaw
yay
zac
zad
Zadar
zag
Zak
zak
zakah
zakat
zaman
Zan
zananas
zap
Zaparan
zapas
zar
Zarah
zat
zax
zayat

In the last list, I didn't include words like "Saba" actually, since that has an "a" at the end, not just between single consonants. But here are the missing words with an A at the beginning or end or both:

Aba
Ababa
Abad
Abadan
Abakan
Abama
Abana
Abas
Acamar
Acamas
Adad
Adah
Adaha
Adal
Adala
Adam
Adama
Adamas
Adamawa
Adan
Adana
Adapa
Adar
Adara
Aday
Afar
Agag
Agama
Agan
Agana
Agar
Agata
Agawam
Agaz
Ahab
Ahaz
Ajaja
Ajax
Ajay
Aka
Akaba
Akal
Akan
Alabama
Alabaman
Alala
Alan
Alana
Alanah
Alapaha
Alar
Alas
Ama
Amadas
Amal
Aman
Amana
Amap
Amapa
Amar
Amara
Amaral
Amaras
Amasa
Amata
Amaya
Anabal
Anabas
Anam
Anana
Anas
Anasa
Anat
Anax
Apama
Aqaba
Ara
Arab
Aracaj
Aracana
Arad
Arafat
Arak
Arakan
Arakawa
Aralac
Aram
Aran
Arara
Ararat
Aras
Arawa
Arawak
Arawakan
Araxa
Asag
Asar
Asat
Ata
Atacaman
Atakapa
Atakapas
Atal
Atalan
Atalaya
Atalayah
Atarax
Atat
Ava
Avan
Avar
Avawam
Awabakal
Awad
Awan
Ayala
Azal
Azan
Azana
Azar
Ba
Baba
Babara
Badaga
Bahama
Baja
Bala
Balarama
Balawa
Bana
Bara
Baraca
Baraga
Baya
Ca
Caca
Cacana
Cacara
Calama
Camala
Camarata
Cana
Canada
Canara
Cara
Caragana
Caraja
Carapa
Carara
Casa
Cayapa
Dada
Damara
Dana
Danava
Dara
Dasahara
Dasara
Daza
Faba
Fagara
Fama
Fara
Fata
Fatagaga
Favata
Ga
Gadaba
Gala
Galata
Gama
Gapa
Gaya
Gaza
Ha
Haba
Habana
Hama
Hana
Hara
Haraya
Hasa
Havana
Haya
Hayakawa
Hazara
Ja
Jacana
Jada
Jaga
Jala
Jalapa
Jana
Janata
Janaya
Jara
Jataka
Java
Jawara
Ka
Kabaka
Kadaga
Kafa
Kagawa
Kaja
Kala
Kalama
Kama
Kanaka
Kanara
Kanazawa
Kara
Karaya
Kata
Kawabata
Kaya
La
Labana
Lala
Lana
Lara
Lasala
Lavada
Ma
Maba
Macaca
Macapa
Macatawa
Mada
Mafala
Maga
Mahala
Mahamaya
Mahayana
Maja
Makaraka
Mala
Malaga
Malaya
Mama
Mana
Manala
Manama
Manara
Manawa
Mara
Marala
Marana
Mata
Maxa
Maxama
Maya
Mayaca
Mazama
Na
Nabala
Nada
Nadaba
Nadaha
Naga
Naha
Nahama
Naja
Nakada
Nakayama
Nama
Namara
Nana
Napa
Nara
Naraka
Nata
Natala
Nataraja
Nava
Navada
Pa
Paba
Pahala
Pakawa
Pala
Pana
Panaca
Panaka
Panama
Para
Parana
Paya
Paza
Ra
Rafa
Raja
Rakata
Rama
Ramada
Ramayana
Rana
Ravana
Sa
Saba
Sada
Sahara
Saka
Sakalava
Sama
Samala
Samara
Sana
Sara
Sarada
Sava
Savara
Ta
Tacana
Tada
Tagala
Taka
Takara
Tala
Talala
Talara
Tama
Tamanaca
Tamanaha
Tamara
Tana
Tanaka
Tanala
Tanana
Tapa
Tara
Tarawa
Va
Vada
Vaja
Vala
Vasa
Wa
Waka
Wakayama
Wana
Wasagara
Wataga
Watala
Wawaka
Yadava
Yafa
Yahata
Yaka
Yakala
Yalaha
Yama
Yamagata
Yamaha
Yana
Yawata
Yaya
Zacata
Zahara
Zama
Zapara
Zapata
Zara
Zavala

And the lowercase ones:

aba, abac, abaca, abacas, abacay, abada, abaka, abakas, abas, abay, abayah, acad, acana, acara, adad, adalat, adam, adamas, adar, adat, adaw, aday, afar, afara, agad, agada, agal, agama, agamas, agar, agas, agata, ahab, ajaja, ajar, ajava, ajax, aka, akala, akan, akasa, alabama, alada, alala, alan, alap, alapa, alar, alas, alasas, alay, ama, amadan, amadavat, amaga, amah, amal, amala, amalaka, amapa, amar, amas, amay, anabas, anabata, anacara, anagap, anal, analav, anam, anama, anan, anana, ananas, anapanapa, anas, anat, anay, apadana, apar, apatan, apay, ara, arab, araba, araban, arabana, araca, arad, arak, arar, arara, arawak, arawakan, asak, asana, asap, atabal, atalaya, atalayas, ataman, atap, atar, ava, avadana, avadavat, aval, avaram, avatar, avatara, awag, awat, away, axal, ayah, ayapana, azan, ba, baba, babajaga, bacaba, baga, bahada, baja, bajada, baka, balada, balata, banaba, banana, bara, barabara, baraka, baraza, batara, batata, baya, ca, caba, cabala, cabana, cabasa, caca, cacanapa, cajava, calaba, calabaza, camaca, camaka, camara, camarada, camata, canaba, canada, capa, caracara, caragana, carapa, casa, casaba, casava, cava, caza, da, dada, dagaba, dalaga, dama, dana, data, datana, fa, fagara, fala, falanaka, fana, ga, gaga, gala, galagala, gama, gapa, gara, garapata, garava, gata, ha, hadada, hagada, haha, hala, halaka, halala, hamada, hamata, havana, haya, ja, jacana, jaga, jalapa, jama, janapa, jara, jarana, jararaca, jataka, java, ka, kabaka, kabala, kabaya, kadaya, kaha, kahala, kaka, kala, kaladana, kama, kamala, kana, kanaka, kanara, kapa, karaka, karaya, kasa, katakana, katana, kava, kavakava, kawaka, kawakawa, la, labara, lama, lasa, lata, lava, lavalava, ma, macana, maha, mahala, maharaja, maharana, mahayana, makara, mala, malaga, malaya, mama, mana, manada, manana, mara, maraca, marara, masa, matamata, matara, maya, maza, mazama, na, nada, naga, nagana, nagara, naja, nana, napa, nasa, nataka, pa, paba, paca, pacaya, paga, paha, pajama, pala, palaka, palala, palama, palapala, panada, panama, papa, papaya, para, parada, parava, pata, pataca, pataka, patana, patata, ra, rada, raga, raja, ramada, ramarama, rana, rara, rasa, rasamala, rata, raya, sa, sabana, saga, sahara, sala, salada, samara, sapa, sasa, sasarara, sata, satara, saya, ta, tacamahaca, taha, taka, takamaka, tala, tamara, tana, tapa, tara, tarama, taramasalata, tarata, tawa, taxa, va, vahana, vara, vasa, wa, waka, wamara, wapata, wawa, wayaka, ya, yaba, yacata, yapa, yava, yaya, yazata, za, zanana

I'm nothing if not thorough.

palabra

Thank Allah all was halal.

Madagascar's president is named Marc Ravalomanana; he defeated Didier Ratsiraka in 2002.