õ

The Vowel Õ

Level 1

õ is a vowel of its own, not a kind of o. It has no English match, and it changes meaning: kõht (belly) and koht (place) are different words.

How It Works

õ is one of the sounds that makes Estonian sound Estonian. The tongue is pulled back as for o, but the lips stay spread or neutral, not rounded. Another way to find it: say e, then slide your tongue back without changing your lips. Speakers vary a little. Some say a sound close to an unrounded u. Any of these is understood.

Because õ is a separate vowel, it can be the only difference between two words:

  • kõrv (ear) and korv (basket)
  • kõht (belly, stomach) and koht (place)

In native Estonian words, õ appears in the first syllable: õun (apple), õde (sister), sõber (friend), õhtu (evening), kõik (all). You will not find it in case endings or verb endings, so once you have learned a word, õ stays in the same place. It also combines with other vowels in one syllable, as in õun, nõu (advice) and õige (right). See diphthongs.

In the dictionary, õ is a separate letter that comes after v (and after w), just before ä. See the Estonian alphabet.

Examples (5)

  1. Mu kõrv valutab.

    My ear hurts.

    Word by Word: My ear aches.

    Kõrv has õ. Korv, with o, would mean basket.

  2. Korv on seeni täis.

    The basket is full of mushrooms.

    Word by Word: Basket is mushrooms full.

    Korv with a rounded o means basket.

  3. Mu õde elab Tartus.

    My sister lives in Tartu.

    Õ can start a word, as in õde.

  4. Täna õhtul on kontsert.

    There's a concert this evening.

    Word by Word: Today evening-at is concert.

    Õhtul is a form of õhtu (evening).

  5. Mu sõber sööb õuna.

    My friend is eating an apple.

    Sõber and õun both have õ in the first syllable.

Common Mistakes

  • Saying or writing o instead of õ.

    Mu koht valutab.
    Mu kõht valutab.

    Koht means place, so the first sentence says "my place hurts". Use õ for belly: kõht.

  • Typing o because õ is hard to find on the keyboard.

    Mu sober elab Tallinnas.
    Mu sõber elab Tallinnas.

    Sober is not an Estonian word. Õ is a separate letter, so add an Estonian keyboard layout and type it every time.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

õLevel 1The Vowel Õ

Learn This First

õ is one of the extra letters introduced with the alphabet.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.