Obéir

Obéir is a French verb meaning to comply with or to follow the commands, directives, or rules of a person or authority. It is used with the preposition à to indicate the source of authority: obéir à quelqu’un or obéir à quelque chose (to obey someone or something), as in obéir au chef or obéir aux lois. The corresponding noun is obéissance.

Etymology and related terms: obéir comes from Old French obéir, from Latin oboedire “to obey,” formed from ob- (toward) and audire (to hear). Related forms include obéissant (obedient), obéissance (obedience), and the English word obedience.

Conjugation and usage: Obéir is an irregular -ir verb. In the present tense, the forms are j’obéis, tu obéis, il obéit, nous obéissons, vous obéissez, ils obéissent. The past participle is obéi, used with the auxiliary avoir in compound tenses, e.g., ils ont obéi. The imperative forms are obéis, obéissons, obéissez. The subjunctive present is qu’il obéisse. Typical uses include: Les soldats doivent obéir aux ordres. Il a obéi à ses parents.

Nuance and context: Obéir denotes compliance or submission to authority, rules, or expectations. It can have neutral, formal, or negative connotations depending on context, ranging from orderly compliance to uncritical conformity. It is often contrasted with désobéir (to disobey) or with résister in more active senses. The verb is common in legal, military, educational, and everyday settings.

See also: obéissance, obedience.