noun

Odia

oh-DEE-uh

Odia (noun) means the Indo-Aryan language spoken by around 40 million people, mainly in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, where it is the official language. It is written in its own rounded script and is one of India's classical languages. Example: “She switched to Odia when her grandmother came on the call.”

noun

The Indo-Aryan language spoken by around 40 million people, mainly in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, where it is the official language. It is written in its own rounded script and is one of India's classical languages.

"She switched to Odia when her grandmother came on the call."

"The signs at the temple are in Odia, Hindi and English."

A person from Odisha, or someone of Odia descent.

"Most of the workers on the site are Odias from Ganjam district."

adjective

Belonging to or characteristic of Odisha, its people or their language.

"He grew up on Odia food — plenty of mustard, plenty of rice."

How to Use Odia

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe language and people of Odisha in eastern India.

When to use it

Neutral. Use Odia in current writing; Oriya now reads as dated.

Memory tip

Odia is the language and the people; Odisha is the state. Do not write 'Odisha language'.

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Easily confused with

Oriya Odisha Oriya calendar

Common pairings

Odia language Odia film speak Odia Odia script Odia literature

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She switched to _____ when her grandmother came on the call.

Etymology

The people's own name for themselves and their language, connected with the name of the region now called Odisha (formerly spelled Orissa in English). The English spelling was officially changed from Oriya to Odia in 2011.

Origin: Odia

Synonyms

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Oriya

Rhymes for Odia

IA aria Asia India Syria Bahia mania Latvia acacia Zambia Russia utopia

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Odia and Oriya?

They are the same language and the same people; only the English spelling differs. Oriya was the older transliteration, and India officially adopted Odia (alongside renaming Orissa as Odisha) in 2011. You will still see Oriya in older books, dictionaries and software language lists.

Is Odia similar to Bengali or Hindi?

Odia is an Indo-Aryan language, so it shares a great deal of vocabulary with Bengali, Assamese and Hindi. It is closest to Bengali and Assamese, but its script is visibly different, with distinctive curved tops rather than the horizontal bar.

Is Odia a classical language?

Yes. In 2014 Odia was given classical language status by the Government of India, recognising a literary tradition stretching back many centuries. It was the first Indo-Aryan language to receive that designation.