to order
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to order
To give someone a binding and authoritative command or instruction to do something. A command generally allows no objection.
Der Hauptmann befahl seinen Soldaten, die Stellung zu halten.
The captain ordered his soldiers to hold the position.
'Befehlen' (to order) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'be-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all conjugated forms and sentence types.
Er befahl dem Hund, still zu sein.
He ordered the dog to be quiet.
This verb always requires a dative for the person receiving the command. A common source of errors is using the accusative.
Der König befahl seinem Diener (nicht: seinen Diener), das Tor zu öffnen.
The king ordered his servant (not: seinen Diener) to open the gate.
The action that is ordered often appears in an infinitive construction with 'zu'. The pattern is: subject + befehlen + dative object + comma + infinitive with 'zu'.
Die Mutter befahl ihrem Kind, sofort ins Bett zu gehen.
The mother ordered her child to go to bed immediately.
'Befehlen' (to order) is a very strong and formal word. It is mainly used in military, police, or other strictly hierarchical contexts. In everyday life, it sounds impolite.
Der General befahl den sofortigen Rückzug.
The general ordered the immediate retreat.
to be called / to mean
Both heißen and befehlen can express a binding instruction. Befehlen is the usual term in modern standard German and emphasizes the authoritative nature of the command. Heißen has a similar effect in this meaning, but today it usually sounds literary or old-fashioned.
Der König befahl den Wachen, das Tor zu öffnen.
The king commanded the guards to open the gate.
Im alten Roman hieß der König die Wachen das Tor öffnen.
In the old novel, the king ordered the guards to open the gate.
