Ori de câte ori introducem codul, oprim cronometrul.

Ori de câte ori means whenever or every time that.

It is a fixed expression made from:

• ori = literally something like any time / each time in this structure
• de câte ori = how many times

Together, ori de câte ori functions as a conjunction introducing a repeated action:

• Ori de câte ori introducem codul, oprim cronometrul.
• Whenever we enter the code, we stop the timer.

A very common alternative is de fiecare dată când, which also means whenever / every time that.

Both verbs are in the 1st person plural form, meaning we:

• introducem = we enter / we introduce
• oprim = we stop

Romanian often leaves out the subject pronoun when it is clear from the verb ending, so:

• (noi) introducem
• (noi) oprim

The pronoun noi = we is understood, so it is not necessary to say it.

Romanian is a pro-drop language, which means subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows the subject.

For example:

• introduc = I enter
• introduci = you enter
• introducem = we enter

Since -em clearly marks we, noi is usually unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast.

So:

• Introducem codul. = We enter the code.
• Noi introducem codul. = We enter the code.
  (with extra emphasis on we)

Romanian uses the present tense for habitual or repeated actions, just like English often does.

So:

• introducem = we enter
• oprim = we stop

In a sentence with ori de câte ori (whenever), the present tense naturally expresses something that happens regularly or whenever the condition occurs.

Compare:

• Ori de câte ori plouă, stăm acasă.
• Whenever it rains, we stay home.

This is a normal use of the present tense in Romanian.

The ending -ul is the definite article attached to the noun. Romanian usually puts the at the end of the word instead of using a separate word like English does.

So:

• cod = a code / code
• codul = the code

and:

• cronometru = a stopwatch / timer
• cronometrul = the stopwatch / the timer

This is one of the biggest differences from English:

• English: the code
• Romanian: codul

Because Romanian definite article forms are not made by simply adding -ul mechanically to the full word every time. The noun changes according to its normal definite form.

For cronometru, the correct definite singular is:

• cronometru → cronometrul

Not:

• cronometruul ❌

This is the standard masculine/neuter pattern for many nouns ending in -u:

• birou → biroul
• teatru → teatrul
• cronometru → cronometrul

So you need to learn the definite form as part of the noun pattern.

Yes. A introduce can mean several things depending on context, including:

• to introduce
• to insert
• to input / enter

In technical or device-related contexts, a introduce codul commonly means:

• to enter the code
• to input the code

So in this sentence, introducem codul is perfectly natural for entering a code into a system or device.

The comma separates the subordinate clause from the main clause.

Structure:

• Ori de câte ori introducem codul = subordinate clause
• oprim cronometrul = main clause

Romanian normally uses a comma when a subordinate clause comes before the main clause.

So:

• Ori de câte ori introducem codul, oprim cronometrul.

This is similar to English:

• Whenever we enter the code, we stop the timer.

Yes. Romanian word order is fairly flexible.

You can also say:

• Oprim cronometrul ori de câte ori introducem codul.

This means the same thing:

• We stop the timer whenever we enter the code.

The version with ori de câte ori... first puts more emphasis on the repeated condition:

• Whenever we enter the code, ...

The version with the main clause first sounds a bit more like:

• We stop the timer whenever...

Both are correct.

A opri means to stop something in this sentence; it is being used transitively.

• oprim cronometrul = we stop the timer

That is different from the reflexive/intransitive use:

• se oprește = it stops / it comes to a stop

Compare:

• Oprim cronometrul. = We stop the timer.
• Cronometrul se oprește. = The timer stops.

So here, we are actively causing the timer to stop.

It can mean either depending on context.

• cronometru often literally suggests stopwatch
• but in many practical or technical contexts it can also be translated as timer

If the English meaning shown to the learner is timer, that is very plausible here. Romanian sometimes uses cronometru where English might prefer either stopwatch or timer, depending on the device or function being described.

Yes. A very common alternative is:

• De fiecare dată când introducem codul, oprim cronometrul.

This also means:

• Whenever / Every time we enter the code, we stop the timer.

Comparison:

• ori de câte ori = a little more formal or literary in some contexts, but still very normal
• de fiecare dată când = extremely common and very transparent for learners

Both are correct and natural.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

Ori de KUH-teh ori intro-DOO-chem KO-dool, o-PRIM kro-no-ME-trul.

A few notes:

• câte has the Romanian vowel ă, which is a short neutral vowel, somewhat like the a in sofa
• ce in introducem sounds like che in check, so introducem ends roughly like -chem
• ul at the end of codul and cronometrul is pronounced, not silent

This is only an approximation, but it helps with the rhythm of the sentence.