Vowel ಒ (o) (Topic 11) in Module 1 – Kannada-Letters (BG)

ಒ — Vowel (o)

• English sound anchor: pot (British short o)

• Kannada words:
• ಒಂದು ('ondu') — One
• ಒಳ್ಳೆ ('oḷḷe') — Good
• ಒಗಟು ('ogaṭu') — Riddle

Vowel Sign: ೊ

When ಒ attaches to a consonant, it is written as the vowel sign ೊ (e.g. ಕ + ೊ = ಕೊ).

Unique Feature: Short and Long O

Just like the two 'e' vowels, Kannada also has two 'o' vowels: - ಒ (o) — short, like o in pot; vowel sign: ೊ - ಓ (ō) — long, like o in go; vowel sign: ೋ

This short/long distinction for both 'e' and 'o' is a hallmark of Kannada and other Dravidian languages.

How to Write ಒ

Watch the animated stroke order below. Each stroke is drawn in sequence — follow the arrows.

Stroke order animation via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.