Words Starting with O

Browse word origins and etymology

O

The name of the letter O, used in English in exclamations, direct address, and poetic apostrophe.

Oğlan

A boy or young male servant, especially a page in the Ottoman palace or military system.

O'Kane

An Irish surname, an anglicized form of Ó Catháin.

O'odham

An Indigenous Uto-Aztecan people of southern Arizona and northern Sonora, and the language they speak.

Oahu

The third-largest island in Hawaii, home to Honolulu and the majority of the state’s population.

Oak

A large tree of the beech family with lobed leaves and acorns, valued for its hard wood.

Oar

A long pole with a flat blade used to row or steer a boat.

Oasis

A fertile place in a desert or other arid region where water is available.

Oat

A cereal plant cultivated for its edible grains, commonly used as food for humans and livestock.

Oath

A solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behavior.

Oath of Office

A formal promise made by a person entering a public position to fulfill its duties faithfully.

Oathbound

Bound or obligated by an oath or promise.

Oathbreaker

A person who breaks a sworn promise or oath.

Oathkeeper

A person who keeps or honors an oath.

Oathsworn

Bound or pledged by a solemn oath, especially to a person, cause, or code.

Oaxaca

A state in southern Mexico, and its capital city, known for its Indigenous cultures and rich regional history.

Ob-Ugric

A linguistic grouping comprising the Khanty and Mansi languages of western Siberia.

Oba

A traditional ruler or king, especially among the Yoruba and neighboring peoples of West Africa.

Obadiah

A biblical Hebrew name meaning “servant of Yahweh,” borne by several figures in the Hebrew Bible.

Obake

A Japanese ghost, spirit, or shapeshifting monster, especially one that has transformed from its original form.