Word order refers to the arrangement of words in a sentence, which can affect its meaning. In English, the typical word order is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), meaning the subject comes first, followed by the verb, and then the object. For example, in the sentence "The cat (subject) chased (verb) the mouse (object)," the order clarifies who is doing the action and who is receiving it. Different languages may have varying word orders. For instance, in German, the structure can change based on the type of sentence, sometimes using Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) in subordinate clauses. Understanding word order is essential for clear communication and proper grammar in any language.