Odia Alphabet & Script
The Odia script (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଲିପି) is one of the most beautiful writing systems in India. Its distinctive rounded, curvilinear letters evolved over centuries and are a UNESCO-recognized example of ancient Indian scripts.
Why Are Odia Letters Round?
Odia letters have a unique curved appearance because they were traditionally written on palm leaves (tala patra). Sharp angular strokes would tear the delicate leaves, so scribes developed smooth, flowing curves.
"The curve is not just aesthetic — it's functional wisdom preserved over millennia."
The Odia Vowels (ସ୍ୱରବର୍ଣ୍ଣ)
Odia has 12 vowels:
| Letter | Name | Transliteration | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| ଅ | ଅ | a | as in "about" |
| ଆ | ଆ | ā | as in "father" |
| ଇ | ଇ | i | as in "sit" |
| ଈ | ଈ | ī | as in "see" |
| ଉ | ଉ | u | as in "put" |
| ଊ | ଊ | ū | as in "moon" |
| ଋ | ଋ | ṛ | as in "rhythm" |
| ଏ | ଏ | e | as in "eight" |
| ଐ | ଐ | ai | as in "eye" |
| ଓ | ଓ | o | as in "go" |
| ଔ | ଔ | au | as in "cow" |
The Odia Consonants (ବ୍ୟଞ୍ଜନବର୍ଣ୍ଣ)
Odia has 36 consonants organized into groups (ବର୍ଗ):
Velar Consonants (କବର୍ଗ)
କ ଖ ଗ ଘ ଙ
Palatal Consonants (ଚବର୍ଗ)
ଚ ଛ ଜ ଝ ଞ
Retroflex Consonants (ଟବର୍ଗ)
ଟ ଠ ଡ ଢ ଣ
Dental Consonants (ତବର୍ଗ)
ତ ଥ ଦ ଧ ନ
Labial Consonants (ପବର୍ଗ)
ପ ଫ ବ ଭ ମ
Semi-vowels & Others
ଯ ର ଲ ଳ ୱ ଶ ଷ ସ ହ
Special Characters
- ✦ଂ (Anuswara) — Nasal sound
- ✦ଃ (Visarga) — Aspirate
- ✦ଁ (Chandrabindu) — Nasalization
Common Conjuncts (ଯୁକ୍ତାକ୍ଷର)
When consonants combine, they form conjuncts:
- ✦କ୍ଷ (kṣa)
- ✦ତ୍ର (tra)
- ✦ଜ୍ଞ (jña)
- ✦ଶ୍ର (śra)
Numerals in Odia
| Arabic | Odia |
|---|---|
| 0 | ୦ |
| 1 | ୧ |
| 2 | ୨ |
| 3 | ୩ |
| 4 | ୪ |
| 5 | ୫ |
| 6 | ୬ |
| 7 | ୭ |
| 8 | ୮ |
| 9 | ୯ |
Tips for Learning
- ✦Start with vowels — Master all 12 before moving to consonants
- ✦Practice curves — Use calligraphy pens for authentic strokes
- ✦Read simple words — Children's books are great for beginners
- ✦Watch the hand — YouTube videos of native writers help with stroke order
Continue learning: Common Odia Greetings • Odia Language Overview