Spanish word

ordenar

Pronunciation

IPA/oɾðeˈnaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbtidy

Example

Voy a ordenar mi habitación.

I'm going to tidy my room.

Illustration for ordenar (tidy)

More examples

Siempre ordeno los papeles por fecha.

I always sort the papers by date.

Core concept

A desk with papers being sorted into labeled stacks.

Common phrases

  • ordenar la habitación

    tidy up the room

  • ordenar los papeles

    sort the papers

  • ordenar la ropa

    tidy the clothes

Similar words

recoger: Collects scattered things together so they are no longer spread around the area.
organizar: Systematically arranges things or plans into categories or timelines for clarity.
acomodar: Arranges items to fit comfortably in a place, adjusting placement or orientation as needed.
guardar: Places objects into a cupboard, drawer, or box for safekeeping and later retrieval.

Definition in Spanish

Organizar o colocar cosas o ideas siguiendo un orden para que sean más claras y manejables.

Word origin

From Latin ordinare 'to put in order', the Spanish verb preserves the sense of arranging objects or ideas into an orderly sequence.

Usage tips

  • In contexts with lists or files, ordenar frequently means 'to sort' (for example, ordenar alfabéticamente), so it appears on menus and interfaces for arranging data.

Other meanings

  • arrangeverb
  • orderverb
  • commandverb

Opposites

  • desordenarmake messyverb
  • desorganizardisorganizeverb

Related words

Word lists with this word