ordenó
/or-deh-NOH/
ordered
The act of giving a command, or having ordered someone to do something.
ordenó(verb)
ordered
?gave a command
,commanded
?issued an instruction
told
?instructed someone to do something
📝 In Action
El juez ordenó el arresto inmediato del sospechoso.
B1The judge ordered the immediate arrest of the suspect.
Mi jefe ordenó que el informe estuviera listo hoy.
A2My boss ordered that the report be ready today.
¿Quién ordenó la cena? Tengo mucha hambre.
A1Who ordered dinner? I'm very hungry.
💡 Grammar Points
A Single Past Action
'Ordenó' is the simple past tense, used for actions that started and finished at a specific point in the past. It's like saying 'He ordered' or 'She commanded' one time.
The action of having organized items and putting them perfectly in order.
📝 In Action
Mi hermana ordenó su colección de discos por género.
B1My sister organized her record collection by genre.
El bibliotecario ordenó todos los archivos antes de la inspección.
B2The librarian arranged all the files before the inspection.
⭐ Usage Tips
Arranging vs. Commanding
Context is key! If 'ordenó' is followed by an object (like 'libros' or 'archivos'), it usually means 'arranged.' If it's followed by a 'que' clause ('que hagas algo'), it means 'commanded.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ordenó
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'ordenó' to mean 'to organize'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'ordenó' and 'ordenaba'?
'Ordenó' (preterite) tells you the action happened once and was finished: 'He ordered the food.' 'Ordenaba' (imperfect) tells you the action was happening repeatedly or described a past habit: 'He used to order food every Friday.'
How do I know if 'ordenó' means 'commanded' or 'ordered food'?
If it involves food or drink, it almost always means 'placed an order' (like at a restaurant). If it involves people or rules, it usually means 'commanded' or 'instructed.'