The objective of the present invention is to provide an optical modulator adapted for use with various modulating units and various modulation regions, and with which variability in optical losses is limited as far as possible. An optical modulator in which an optical waveguide and a control electrode for controlling an optical wave propagating through the optical waveguide are provided in a substrate, characterized in that: the optical waveguide is provided with a first branching portion which causes one input light beam to branch into two light beams; each of a first and a second modulating portion connected to two branched waveguides which branch at the first branching portion is provided with a structure in which one or more Mach-Zehnder type optical waveguides are combined; the control electrode comprises signal electrodes which apply modulated signals to the first and second modulating portions; input portions of all the signal electrodes are disposed on either the left or the right of the substrate relative to the direction in which the optical wave propagates; and in relation to output portions of the signal electrodes, the output portions of the signal electrodes led out from each modulating portion are disposed on the side on which the first or second modulating portions are disposed, relative to the direction in which the optical wave propagates.