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obéir

to obey

verb oh-beh-EER Less Common
People & Society Values

Usage Note

Obéir is a regular -ir verb (like finir) but, crucially, it takes à rather than a direct object — obéir à ses parents (to obey one's parents), never obéir ses parents. This indirect-object construction trips up English speakers consistently. The noun is l'obéissance (obedience).

Examples

"Les soldats obéissent aux ordres."

Natural Translation

The soldiers obey orders.

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