Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
The French word of the day is the regular ER verb commander, meaning ‘to order’ as in the context of ordering food at a restaurant or ordering an item online. Students often confuse this verb with ordonner, which the French use in the context of giving orders (e.g., do this, do that!).
commander – IPA pronunciation /kɔ.mɑ̃.de/
How To Use “Commander” (to order) In French
Word origin
The modern French verb commander (to order) comes from commendo in Latin, meaning to entrust and to commit.
Example sentences
The most common usage of commander in French is ‘to order’ as in to order food or a meal. You cannot use the verb ordonner in this context. We’ll cover that verb below.
Êtes-vous prêts à commander ? – Oui, je prends une crème brûlée, s’il vous plaît.
Are you ready to order? – Yes, I’ll have a crème brûlée, please.
Use commander for ordering or buying things online.
Je commande les livres pour apprendre le français en ligne.
I order the books for learning French online.
This example sentence uses the grammatical construction commander à quelqu’un de faire quelque chose (to order somebody to do something).
Le professeur commande à l’enfant de lire la phrase.
The teacher orders the child to read the sentence.
Finally, the French use the verb ordonner in the context of giving orders. The grammatical construction is: ordonner a quelqu’un de faire quelque chose (to order somebody to do something).
Le commandant d’escadron ordonne au soldat de faire son lit.
The squadron leader orders the soldier to make his bed.
Commander conjugation in the present tense
Je commande I order
Tu commandes You order (singular, informal)
Il, elle commande He, she orders
Nous commandons We order
Vous commandez You order (plural, formal)
Ils, elles commandent They order
Complete commander conjugation table
Continue learning French!
Now that you’ve mastered commander, check out our lessons on je voudrais — the polite way to say “I’d like” in French — and the related verb demander (to ask for).
