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Spanish Words That Start With O

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Delving into a new language like Spanish is a rewarding journey. In this blog post, we’ll teach you Spanish words that start with “O”, enhancing your ability to connect with millions of Spanish speakers worldwide.

Whether you’re travelling to a Spanish-speaking country or engaging with Spanish-speaking friends, an enriched vocabulary is key. This post is the perfect beginning, offering a wide variety of Spanish words, from chemical element-related nouns to vibrant ‘ocean’ phrases.

We’ll help build your confidence by showing you how to construct sentences and understanding the rules behind Spanish words. Additionally, you’ll find an English translation for each Spanish word, boosting your understanding of their meaning.

So, whether it’s for work, travel, or personal interest, this dictionary-like list of Spanish words starting with “O” is a fantastic starting point. Let’s dive into this fascinating world!

History Of The Letter O In The Spanish Alphabet

The Spanish language has a rich and fascinating history, and the development of the Spanish alphabet is a significant part of it. The Spanish alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet, which was used by the Romans, and it was first used in Spain in the 15th century

Since then, the Spanish alphabet has evolved, with changes being made to it over time.

The letter “O” has been a part of the Spanish alphabet since its inception. It is a vowel and is the 16th letter in the modern Spanish alphabet. Its sound is similar to that of English, and it is used in a wide variety of Spanish words. In Spanish, “O” is pronounced as “o” (oh), and it has no variations in its pronunciation.

DID YOU KNOW…?

The letter “O” is derived from the Phoenician letter “ayin,” which meant “eye.”

Throughout history, the letter “O” has played a crucial role in the development of the Spanish language. The letter has been used in words borrowed from other languages, such as “ordenador” (computer), which comes from the English word “order.” 

It is also used in many Spanish words that are part of everyday vocabulary, such as “oro” (gold), “oso” (bear), and “ojo” (eye).

The letter “O” has remained unchanged throughout the evolution of the Spanish language, unlike other letters such as “ll” and “ch” that were once considered distinct letters but are now considered to be digraphs. 

In recent years, there have been debates about the need to update the Spanish alphabet to include other letters, such as “ñ” and “ch,” which are used in some Spanish-speaking countries. However, these changes have not been widely adopted.

In conclusion, the letter “O” has a rich history in the Spanish language, and its use in Spanish words has been consistent over the years. 

As one of the fundamental vowels in the Spanish language, it has played a significant role in the language’s evolution and continues to be an integral part of it today.

Spanish Nouns Starting With O (Sustantivos)

Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. In Spanish, they can be either masculine or feminine and can be singular or plural.

Here is a list of nouns in Spanish that start with “O”:

Spanish 

English

Ojo

Eye

Oro

Gold

Ola

Wave

Oso

Bear

Oído

Ear

Orilla

Shoreline

Opción

Option

Oración

Prayer/Sentence

Ocasión

Occasion

Obra

Work

Origen

Origin

Objeto

Object

Opinión

Opinion

Oferta

Offer

Oficina

Office

Ombligo

Navel

Oeste

West

Oliva

Olive

Orquesta

Orchestra

Octubre

October

Olla

Pot

Ocupación

Occupation

Organismo

Organism

Objetivo

Objective

Oveja

Sheep

Océano

Ocean

Oruga

Caterpillar

Ocio

Leisure

FUN FACT…

In Spanish, the letter “O” is often used as a symbol of a hug, similar to how “X” is used in English. This is because the shape of the letter “O” resembles two people embracing each other. So, in texts, emails, or social media messages, Spanish speakers might use “OO” or “Oo” to indicate a hug or affectionate gesture.

Tree-bark styled letter "O" on a soft green gradient background.
Image by Freepik via Freepik

Spanish Verbs Starting With O (Verbos)

Verbs are words that describe an action, occurrence, or state of being. In Spanish, they can be regular or irregular and conjugated to match the sentence’s tense, subject, and mood.

Here is a list of verbs in Spanish that start with “O”:

Spanish 

English

O.0cupar 

To Occupy

Obtener

To Obtain

Observar

To Observe

Ofrecer

To Offer

Oír

To Hear

Olvidar

To Forget

Opinar

To Give An Opinion

Organizar

To Organize

Obligar

To Obligate

Oler

To Smell

Oponer

To Oppose

Ordenar

To Order

Opacar

To Overshadow

Operar

To Operate

Odiar

To Hate

Otear

To Scan

Oprimir

To Oppress

Oscilar

To Oscillate

Obturar

To Fill In

Ojear

To Skim

Orientar

To Orient

Ocuparse

To Be Busy With

Ondear

To Wave

Obligar

To Obligate

Obsequiar

To Gift

Olisquear

To Sniff

Obviar

To Ignore

Spanish Adverbs Starting With O (Adverbios)

Adverbs are words that modify or describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. In Spanish, they can indicate the manner, time, place, degree, or frequency of an action or event.

Here is a list of adverbs in Spanish that start with “O”:

Spanish 

English

Ocasionalmente

Occasionally

Odiosamente

Hatefully

Oficialmente

Officially

Oportunamente

Opportunely

Originalmente

Originally

Obviamente

Obviously

Oportunamente

Timely

Ojalá

Hopefully

Obedientemente

Obediently

Ordinariamente

Ordinarily

Opuestamente

Oppositely

Ocasional

Occasional

Olímpicamente

Olympically

Ondulantemente

Undulatingly

Oíblemente

Audibly

Orgullosamente

Proudly

Ostentosamente

Ostentatiously

Opacamente

Opaquely

Oralmente

Orally

Objetivamente

Objectively

Optativamente

Optatively

Ominosamente

Ominously

Ocupadamente

Busily

Oblicuamente

Obliquely

Osadamente

Boldly

Two students carrying notebooks and binders while walking, emphasizing a close-up of their books and backpacks.
Image by wayhomestudio via Freepik

Spanish Adjectives Starting With O (Adjetivos)

Adjectives are words that modify or describe a noun or a pronoun. In Spanish, they can be used to indicate the color, size, shape, quality, or quantity of a noun.

Here is a long list of adjectives in Spanish that start with “O”:

Spanish 

English

Obediente

Obedient

Obeso

Obese

Objetivo

Objective

Por que

For which

Obligado

Obligated

Obsceno

Obscene

Obsesivo

Obsessive

Obsoleto

Obsolete

Obstétrico

Obstetric

Obstinado

Obstinate

Obtuso

Obtuse

Obvio

Obvious

Ocasional

Occasional

Odioso

Odious

Ofensivo

Offensive

Oficial

Official

Oftálmico

Ophthalmic

Olímpico

Olympic

Omnipotente

Omnipotent

Ondulado

Wavy

Opaco

Opaque

Opinable

Debatable

Oportunista

Opportunist

Oportuno

Opportune

Opuesto

Opposite

Now You Know a Lot of Spanish Words With O!

Discover the power of Spanish words that start with O. Broaden your horizons and enhance your language skills by exploring a fascinating array of vocabulary. 

From everyday phrases to intriguing chemical elements, our expert tutors at SpanishVIP are passionate about teaching and fostering a supportive environment for your language journey. 

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Uncover the meanings, rules, and conjugation of Spanish words and phrases, all while enjoying the flexibility of scheduling lessons at your convenience. 

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