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The command used to change the ownership of a file to a new user is "chown." This command allows users with the appropriate permissions (typically the root user) to modify the ownership of files and directories. The basic syntax involves specifying the new owner's username followed by the filename.

For example, if you want to change the ownership of a file named "example.txt" to a user called "john," the command would be `chown john example.txt`. This effectively grants John the ownership rights over that file, allowing him to read, write, or execute it according to the permissions assigned.

Other options serve different purposes: "chmod" is used to change the permissions of a file or directory, allowing you to set who can read, write, or execute the file. "passwd" is used for changing user passwords, and "chgrp" is meant for changing the group ownership of a file rather than the user ownership. Understanding the distinct functions of these commands is essential for effective file management and security within a Linux system.