Letter O: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
O is the 15th letter of the English alphabet. It comes after N and before P. O is a vowel. The capital (uppercase) letter is O and the small (lowercase) letter is o.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter O at a Glance
| Position | 15th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Vowel |
| Uppercase and lowercase | O o |
| Comes between | N and P |
| Main sounds | short o, long o, oo |
| Strokes to write it | Capital O: 1 · small o: 1 |
How to Write Capital O and Small o
Follow the numbers: start each stroke at its numbered dot and move in the direction of the arrow. The blue top line, dashed middle line and red bottom line match the lines on handwriting paper.
Capital O (1 stroke)
- Start at the top.
- Curve to the left, down and around, and back up to the start to make a big circle.
Small o (1 stroke)
- Start at the middle line.
- Make the same circle, but smaller, between the middle line and the bottom line.
Small o is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
Common mix-up: O can look like the number 0. In writing for children, O is rounder and 0 is often taller and narrower.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter O Tracing Sheet
Print this one-page sheet for practice at home or in class. Each row starts with a solid model letter, followed by dotted letters to trace, then empty lines to write O and o alone.
What Sound Does O Make?
- short o: the sound at the start of octopus and in the middle of hot. Examples: octopus, ox, hot, dog.
- long o: O saying its own name. Examples: open, go, rope, boat.
- oo: in a few common words. Examples: do, to, who.
Practice the sound with pictures on O is for Octopus, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With O
O is for Octopus! Here are more O words:
O also appears in the middle or at the end of words: dog, hot, boat, frog, robot.
Interesting Facts About O
- The letter O comes from an ancient symbol for an eye, and it has kept almost the same round shape for about 3,000 years.
- Two Os together often make new sounds, as in moon and book.
Quick Quiz: Letter O
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after O?
P.
Does the o in go make a short or long sound?
A long sound. It says its name.
Which direction should you go when you write O?
Start at the top and go to the left, counterclockwise.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Peel and share orange slices while chanting "O is for orange!" Then take turns hooting like owls, calling out other O words the class can think of.
At Home
Look at pictures of the ocean together while saying "O is for ocean." Afterward, trace the letter O on paper — since it's just one big circle, it's an easy, satisfying letter for early writers.
Tips
Parents: Letter O is a great confidence-builder for tracing since capital and lowercase look almost identical, just different sizes — a gentle introduction to that concept.
Teachers: Pair O with a "round things" scavenger hunt — balls, plates, and clocks are all everyday shapes that reinforce the letter's circular form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is O in the alphabet?
O is the 15th letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after N and before P.
Is O a vowel or a consonant?
O is a vowel. The five vowels are A, E, I, O and U. Every English word has at least one vowel sound, and vowels can make short and long sounds.
What sound does the letter O make?
O makes these sounds: short o as in octopus; long o as in open; oo as in do.
How do you write a small o?
Start at the middle line. Make the same circle, but smaller, between the middle line and the bottom line. Small o is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
What are some words that start with O?
Words that start with O include octopus, owl, orange, ostrich, otter, ox.
Why should children write O starting at the top and going left?
The same movement is used for a, c, d, g and q, so practicing it with O makes those letters easier to learn.
Summary
O is the 15th letter of the alphabet and is a vowel. Its main sounds are short o, long o, oo. Capital O takes 1 stroke and small o takes 1. Next, learn the letter P.