Omicron Symbol Ο ο

Copy and paste the Omicron symbol. Available in both uppercase (Ο) and lowercase (ο) forms.

What is the Omicron Symbol?

Omicron (Ο, ο) is the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet. The name "Omicron" comes from the Greek words "o mikron," meaning "small o," distinguishing it from Omega (Ω, ω), which means "big o."

Uppercase Omicron (Ο)

  • Unicode: U+039F
  • HTML Entity: Ο
  • HTML Code: Ο
  • CSS Code: \039F
  • Alternative Names: Capital Omicron, Upper Omicron, Greek Capital Letter Omicron
  • Unicode Category: Letter, Uppercase

Lowercase Omicron (ο)

  • Unicode: U+03BF
  • HTML Entity: ο
  • HTML Code: ο
  • CSS Code: \03BF
  • Alternative Names: Small Omicron, Lower Omicron, Greek Small Letter Omicron
  • Unicode Category: Letter, Lowercase

How to Type the Omicron Symbol

Windows

Using Alt Codes

  • 1. Enable NumLock
  • 2. Hold down the Alt key
  • 3. Type 927 for Ο (uppercase)
  • 4. Type 959 for ο (lowercase)

Using Character Map

  • 1. Press Windows + R
  • 2. Type "charmap" and press Enter
  • 3. Select "Greek" from the font dropdown
  • 4. Find and double-click Omicron
  • 5. Click "Copy" to copy the symbol

Microsoft Word

  • 1. Click Insert > Symbol > More Symbols
  • 2. Select "Greek and Coptic" from the Subset dropdown
  • 3. Find and select Omicron
  • 4. Click "Insert"

macOS

Using Keyboard

  • 1. Press Option + 'o' for ο (lowercase)
  • 2. Press Option + Shift + 'o' for Ο (uppercase)

Using Character Viewer

  • 1. Press Control + Command + Space
  • 2. Click the icon in the top-right
  • 3. Select "Greek" from categories
  • 4. Find and click Omicron

Using Text Replacement

  • 1. Open System Preferences > Keyboard > Text
  • 2. Click + to add a new replacement
  • 3. Type your shortcut (e.g., :omicron:)
  • 4. Paste the Omicron symbol

Common Uses of the Omicron Symbol

Mathematics

  • Big O Notation (Ο): Used in complexity theory to describe the upper bound of an algorithm's growth rate
  • Set Theory: Used to denote specific sets or operations in mathematical analysis
  • Geometry: Represents angles and rotations in geometric calculations
  • Group Theory: Used to denote specific types of groups or operations

Science

  • Physics:
    • - Angular velocity in rotational mechanics
    • - Solid angle in spherical coordinates
    • - Surface tension in fluid dynamics
  • Astronomy:
    • - Designation of stars in constellations (e.g., ο Ceti)
    • - Classification of celestial objects
  • Chemistry:
    • - Molecular orbital notation
    • - Symmetry operations in group theory
    • - Representation of specific atomic orbitals

Other Fields

  • Finance: Used in some mathematical models for financial analysis
  • Engineering: Appears in various engineering notations and calculations
  • Computer Science: Used in algorithm analysis and theoretical computer science

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Omicron (Ο) and the Latin letter O?

While they look similar, Omicron (Ο) and the Latin letter O are different characters. Omicron is the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet, while O is the 15th letter of the Latin alphabet. They have different Unicode values and are used in different contexts.

Why is it called Omicron?

The name "Omicron" comes from the Greek words "o mikron" meaning "small o." This distinguishes it from Omega (Ω), which means "big o" ("o mega" in Greek). This naming convention helped differentiate between the two O-shaped letters in the Greek alphabet.

Can I use the Omicron symbol in my documents?

Yes, you can use the Omicron symbol in any document that supports Unicode characters. Most modern word processors, text editors, and web browsers support Greek letters. You can copy the symbol from our website or use the typing methods described in the "How to Type" section.

Why doesn't the Omicron symbol appear correctly on my device?

If you see a box or question mark instead of the Omicron symbol, your device might not have a font installed that includes Greek characters. Try installing a Unicode font like Arial Unicode MS or using a web font that includes Greek characters.

Is Omicron used in modern Greek?

Yes, Omicron is still an active letter in the modern Greek alphabet. It represents the short "o" sound in Greek words and is used in everyday written Greek, just as it was in ancient times.

How is Omicron used in scientific notation?

In science and mathematics, Omicron has several uses. It's most famously used in Big O notation in computer science to describe algorithm complexity. It's also used in physics for angular measurements and in chemistry for orbital notation.

All Greek Letters

The Greek alphabet consists of 24 letters, each with its own unique symbol and significance. Click any symbol to copy it to your clipboard.

Name Uppercase Lowercase
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Delta
Epsilon
Zeta
Eta
Theta
Iota
Kappa
Lambda
Mu
Nu
Xi
Omicron
Pi
Rho
Sigma
Tau
Upsilon
Phi
Chi
Psi
Omega