die  Order

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɔʁdɐ/

💡 Meaning of 'Die Order'

The word die Order (feminine) is a noun borrowed from English and primarily means in German:

• Instruction, command, directive: This is the most common meaning, often used in economic (stock market), military, or business contexts. It refers to a formal or informal instruction to do something. Example: Eine Order zur Ausführung geben. (To give an order for execution.)
• Order (esp. purchase/sale order): Particularly in stock trading or shopping, 'die Order' signifies an order, e.g., to buy or sell securities or goods. Example: Die Order wurde platziert. (The order was placed.)

🚨 Caution: Potential Confusion:

• Der Orden: Masculine, refers to an award or medal (e.g., Bundesverdienstorden - Federal Cross of Merit) or a religious/knightly order (e.g., der Jesuitenorden - the Jesuit Order).
• Die Ordnung: Feminine, refers to a state of organization, rules, or sequence (e.g., Ordnung halten - to keep order, die Reihenfolge - the sequence).

Although 'Order' originates from English, it is treated as a feminine noun in German.

📜 Grammar & Declension: Die Order

As a feminine noun, 'die Order' is declined as follows:

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Note: The plural 'Orders' (following the English model) is more common than 'Ordern'.

Example Sentences ✍️

1. Der Broker hat die Order für den Aktienkauf erhalten. (The broker received the order for the stock purchase.)
2. Der General gab die Order zum Rückzug. (The general gave the order to retreat.)
3. Die Ausführung der Order verzögerte sich. (The execution of the order was delayed.)
4. Wir haben heute viele Orders bearbeitet. (We processed many orders today.)
5. Folgen Sie bitte der Order! (Please follow the order!)

🗣️ Usage in Context

Die Order is primarily used in specific professional fields or contexts:

• Economics & Finance: Very common on the stock exchange for buy or sell orders of securities (e.g., eine Limit-Order setzen - to set a limit order, Stop-Loss-Order).
• Trade & E-commerce: Term for a purchase order or customer order (e.g., Ihre Order wird bearbeitet - Your order is being processed).
• Military & Hierarchies: As a synonym for command or instruction (e.g., Die Soldaten befolgten die Order. - The soldiers followed the order.).
• Technology & IT: Sometimes for a command or instruction within a system.

In general conversation, the German words Anweisung (instruction), Befehl (command), or Auftrag (order, task) are often more common and sound less like jargon or an Anglicism. Using 'Order' can sometimes seem slightly more formal or specific than 'Auftrag'.

Comparison:

• die Order: often a specific command/order, especially in finance/military context.
• der Auftrag: more general, a task or order.
• der Befehl: stronger, often military or hierarchical.
• die Anweisung: a detailed instruction.

🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids

For the Article (die): Think that an Order is often a formal instruction or directive. The German word for instruction is die Anweisung, which is also feminine. Link die Order to die Anweisung.

For the Meaning (command/order): Imagine shouting "OrdER!" like a command. The sound itself is quite commanding. Or picture placing an ordER at the stock market - it's a financial instruction.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms for Order

⚠️ Similar but Different Words:

• Der Orden: Medal, award; religious/knightly order
• Die Ordnung: Orderliness, sequence, system

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef seinen neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie schon die Order für Herrn Müller ausgeführt?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Nein, Chef, ich warte noch auf die passende Musik zum Einmarschieren!"

Translation:

The boss asks his new employee: "Have you carried out the order for Mr. Müller yet?"
The employee replies: "No, boss, I'm still waiting for the right entrance music!"

✍️ Poem about 'Order'

Am Schirm, ganz digital und klar,
liegt eine Order, wunderbar.
Ein Klick, ein Kauf, ein schneller Schluss,
die Aktie steigt, kein Überdruss.
Ob Kauf, ob Verkauf, es muss schnell geh'n,
die Order lässt die Kurse dreh'n.
Ein Befehl in Bytes, so kühl und rein,
so ist die Börsenwelt, so soll es sein.

Translation:

On screen, all digital and clear,
an order lies, wonderfully near.
A click, a purchase, a swift close,
the stock price climbs, as everyone knows.
Whether buy or sell, it must proceed,
the order makes the market speed.
A command in bytes, so cool and clean,
that's the stock market world, a vibrant scene.

🤔 Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Wort aus fremder Sprach',
bedeute oft Befehl und mach'
an Börsen Händler froh und reich,
als Auftrag diene ich sogleich.
Mit 'die' steh' ich meistens da,
was bin ich? Nun, sag's doch, hurra!

Translation:

I'm a word from a foreign tongue,
often mean command, among
the traders, make them rich and glad,
as an order, I'm quickly had.
With 'die' I usually appear,
what am I? Say it now, cheer!

Solution: die Order

🌐 Other Information

Etymology: The German word 'Order' comes from the English 'order', which in turn derives from the Old French 'ordre' and ultimately the Latin 'ordo' (row, rank, order, class). Although the Latin root suggests 'Ordnung' (orderliness), the meaning shifted in English and subsequently in German towards 'instruction' or 'commission/order'.

Distribution: 'Die Order' is firmly established, especially in business and financial jargon. It is used less frequently in general language but is becoming more common due to globalization and e-commerce.