Inklingo

ordeno

or-DEH-no/orˈðe.no/

ordeno means I organize in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

I organize, I tidy up

Also: I arrange
VerbA1regular ar
Mexico and Central America
A friendly character is neatly placing scattered colorful toy blocks into a neat, organized wooden box.
infinitiveordenar
gerundordenando
past Participleordenado

📝 In Action

Cada mañana, ordeno mi escritorio antes de empezar a trabajar.

A1

Every morning, I organize my desk before starting work.

Yo ordeno los archivos alfabéticamente para encontrarlos más rápido.

A2

I arrange the files alphabetically to find them faster.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • desordeno (I mess up)

Common Collocations

  • ordeno mi cuartoI tidy my room
  • ordeno ideasI organize my thoughts

I command, I order

Also: I dictate
VerbB1regular arneutral/formal
A simplified drawing of a figure standing on a slight rise, making a decisive pointing gesture, indicating they are giving an instruction.
infinitiveordenar
gerundordenando
past Participleordenado

📝 In Action

Yo ordeno que todos los empleados estén aquí a las ocho.

B1

I order that all employees be here at eight.

Desde mi posición, ordeno la distribución de los recursos.

B2

From my position, I command the distribution of resources.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mando (I command)
  • decreto (I decree)

Common Collocations

  • ordeno silencioI command silence
  • ordeno un registroI order a search (legal term)

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedordena
yoordeno
ordenas
ellos/ellas/ustedesordenan
nosotrosordenamos
vosotrosordenáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedordenaba
yoordenaba
ordenabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesordenaban
nosotrosordenábamos
vosotrosordenabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedordenó
yoordené
ordenaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesordenaron
nosotrosordenamos
vosotrosordenasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedordene
yoordene
ordenes
ellos/ellas/ustedesordenen
nosotrosordenemos
vosotrosordenéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedordenara/ordenase
yoordenara/ordenase
ordenaras/ordenases
ellos/ellas/ustedesordenaran/ordenasen
nosotrosordenáramos/ordenásemos
vosotrosordenarais/ordenaseis

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ordeno

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'ordeno' in the sense of 'giving a command'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
truenofreno
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Latin verb *ordinare*, which meant 'to put in order,' 'to arrange,' or 'to manage.' This root gives us both the sense of tidiness and the sense of issuing a command.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ordenarItalian: ordinare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ordeno' the same as 'pido' (I ask for)?

Not exactly. 'Pido' is used for general requests, like asking for food or help. 'Ordeno' means 'I command' or 'I organize.' While some regions use 'ordeno' for ordering food, 'pido' is safer and more common for requests across the Spanish-speaking world.