-ஓ

Cognate with Malayalam -ഓ (-ō).

• IPA^(key): /oː/

-ஓ • (-ō)

1. or
   1. signifying doubt

      அவன் வயது ஒன்றோ இரண்டோ.

      avaṉ vayatu oṉṟō iraṇṭō.

      His age is some, one or two.

      (with a tone of uncertainty)

   2. whether

      ஆணோ பெண்ணோ, எனக்கு கவலை இல்லை.

      āṇō peṇṇō, eṉakku kavalai illai.

      Whether it's male or female, I don't care.

-ஓ • (-ō)

1. ellipsis of a counterpart

   அவள் வந்ததோ படிப்பதற்கு

   avaḷ vantatō paṭippataṟku

   She came for the purpose of studying. (However...)

2. distinctiveness; on the other hand; in contrast; on the flip side

   அவனோ சென்றுவிட்டான்.

   avaṉō ceṉṟuviṭṭāṉ.

   He (on the other hand) has left.

-ஓ • (-ō)

1. used to denote 'that what is signified' is indefinite or unspecific

   யாரோ கதவைத் தட்டியது போல் இருந்தது.

   yārō katavait taṭṭiyatu pōl iruntatu.

   It felt like someone knocked on the door.

   எப்படியெல்லாமோ நடக்கிறது.

   eppaṭiyellāmō naṭakkiṟatu.

   It's happening howsoever.

2. (literary and Brahmin) interrogative marker

   Synonym: -ஆ (-ā)

   வந்தது அவனோ?

   vantatu avaṉō?

   Was it him who came?

• University of Madras (1924–1936), “ஓ”, in Tamil Lexicon, Madras [Chennai]: Diocesan Press
• S. Ramakrishnan (1992), “-ஓ”, in தற்காலத் தமிழ் அகராதி [Dictionary of Contemporary Tamil] (in Tamil), Madras: Cre-A Publishers, page [1]