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ordonner

to order, to command

verb ohr-doh-NAY Less Common
Communication Speech

Also means

to prescribe (medicine)

Usage Note

Ordonner means to give an order (ordonner le silence, 'to order silence') or, in a medical context, to prescribe (le médecin lui a ordonné du repos). It also means to ordain a priest in a religious context. The related noun ordre ('order, command') is extremely common. Ordonner should not be confused with commander, which leans more toward placing orders for goods.

Examples

"Le général a ordonné l'attaque."

Natural Translation

The general ordered the attack.

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