In order to provide a highly reliable silicon-germanium semiconductor optical element of high luminous efficiency or of low power consumption that can reduce or prevent the occurrence of dislocations or crystal defects on the interface between a light emitting layer or a light absorption layer and a cladding layer, in a silicon-germanium semiconductor optical element, a germanium protective layer 11 of non-light emission is disposed between a germanium light emitting layer or the light absorption layer 10 and a cladding layer 12 disposed above a substrate. The germanium protective layer 11 has the electrical conductivity different from electrical conductivity of the germanium light emitting layer or the light absorption layer 10.