# Otto

/ˈɑˌtoʊ/ (US) · /ˈɒtəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/otto
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a traditional name for a man or boy, common in many European countries.

For teachers: a male given name of Germanic origin, meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune'.

- My friend Otto is coming over to help me fix my computer tonight.
- The historical documents mention an Otto von Bismarck, who played a central role in the unification of Germany during the nineteenth century.

### 2. flower oil

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a different way to spell 'attar', which is a strong, sweet oil made from flowers.

For teachers: an alternative spelling of attar; a fragrant essential oil, typically distilled from rose petals.

- The perfume has a strong scent of rose otto.
- The chemist explained that the purity of the rose otto determines the final market value of the luxury fragrance.

## Examples

- The restaurant is called Otto because it is on Eighth Street.
- In the music theory class, the teacher explained that 'otto' is the Italian word for eight.
- While not a standard English number, the term appears in specific cultural contexts, such as the 'Ottocento' period of Italian art and literature during the nineteenth century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.