Omega Symbol Ω ω: Copy, Meaning and How to Type

What Is the Symbol of Omega?

Omega has two forms, and they look nothing like each other:

The name means "big o" in Greek (o-mega), as opposed to omicron, "small o". So omega ka symbol is Ω in capital and ω in small letters.

Omega Symbol in Physics

The omega symbol in physics is mostly small ω, used for rotation and oscillation:

• Angular velocity: ω = θ ÷ t, in radians per second (rad/s). A ceiling fan at 300 rpm turns at ω = 300 × 2π ÷ 60 ≈ 31.4 rad/s.
• Angular frequency: ω = 2πf. For India's 50 Hz mains supply, ω = 2π × 50 ≈ 314 rad/s.
• Linear speed link: v = r ω for a point on a rotating wheel.
• Simple harmonic motion: x = A sin(ωt + φ). See the phi symbol page for φ.

Capital Ω in physics almost always means the ohm, the unit of electrical resistance. That use has its own page: the ohm symbol, with kΩ, MΩ and multimeter tips.

Omega Symbol in Maths: Cube Roots of Unity

In Class 11 complex numbers and JEE algebra, ω is the famous cube root of unity. The three cube roots of 1 are 1, ω and ω², where:

• ω = (−1 + i√3) ÷ 2
• ω³ = 1
• 1 + ω + ω² = 0

Example: ω⁵ = ω³ × ω² = ω². Remembering ω³ = 1 makes long powers easy.

In computer science, Ω(n) (big omega) gives a lower bound on how much time an algorithm needs. In probability, Ω is often used for the sample space, the set of all possible outcomes.

Omega Symbol w: Why ω Is Not the Letter w

Small ω looks very much like an English w, and many students type w by mistake. The difference matters:

• ω is round at the bottom; w has sharp points.
• An equation tool or search engine reads "w" as a different letter, so v = rw is not the same as v = rω.
• In handwriting, curve the bottoms clearly so the examiner reads ω.

Capital Ω has a similar look-alike problem with the separate ohm sign Ω (U+2126) in the grid. That character exists for compatibility with old systems. For both the letter and the unit, the Greek capital omega U+03A9 is the one to use.

How to Type the Omega Symbol in Word, Mac and Phone

Capital Ω has proper shortcuts; small ω does not.

• Windows: Alt+234 on the number pad gives Ω.
• Mac: Option+Z gives Ω.
• Omega symbol in Word: 03A9 then Alt+X for Ω, and 03C9 then Alt+X for ω.
• Google Docs: Insert > Special characters, search "omega".
• Android: some keyboards show Ω on their extra symbol pages (tap ?123, then =\<); small ω usually needs a Greek keyboard or copying.
• HTML: Ω and ω.

Alpha and Omega: Omega in Culture

In the Christian Bible, the phrase "I am the Alpha and the Omega" describes God as the first and the last. For this reason, Α and Ω often appear together in church art, sometimes beside a cross. Outside religion, people use Ω to mean "the final one" or "the ultimate", and omega-3 (often written ω-3) is the name of a family of fatty acids. Compare the first letter on the alpha symbol page, or browse every letter on the Greek letters hub.