Έστω κι αν λείψει, θα συνεχίσει.

It is a set expression meaning even if.

More literally:

• έστω originally means something like let it be
• κι αν means and if / if

But in this sentence, you should understand the whole chunk Έστω κι αν as one concessive expression: even if, even in the case that.

So the sentence structure is:

• Έστω κι αν λείψει = Even if he/she/it is absent
• θα συνεχίσει = it/he/she will continue

κι is just a shorter form of και.

In everyday Greek, especially before a vowel, και often becomes κι:

• κι αν = και αν

There is no real difference in meaning here. κι αν simply sounds more natural and fluent in this phrase.

Because Greek is choosing the perfective subjunctive form here.

After αν in this kind of clause, Greek often uses a subjunctive form, and the speaker chooses between:

• λείπει = imperfective aspect
• λείψει = perfective aspect

Here, λείψει suggests a single possible event:
even if he/she happens to be absent.

If you said λείπει, the feeling would be more like an ongoing or repeated state of absence, depending on context.

So the choice is mainly about aspect, not just tense.

Not by itself here.

This is a very common point of confusion.

• θα λείψει = he/she/it will be absent / will miss
• αν λείψει = if he/she/it is absent / if he/she/it misses

So λείψει has the same basic verb form, but:

• with θα, it is part of the future
• with αν, it is part of the subjunctive construction

In this sentence, because it follows κι αν, it is not a future tense form.

Because θα marks the future.

The verb is συνεχίζω = continue.
Its form here is συνεχίσει, and with θα it gives the simple future:

• θα συνεχίσει = he/she/it will continue

So the second half of the sentence is the main clause:
it/he/she will continue.

Greek often leaves subject pronouns out because the verb ending already shows the person and number.

Both verbs here are third person singular, so the subject could be:

• he
• she
• it

The exact meaning depends on context.

So:

• λείψει = he/she/it is absent / misses
• θα συνεχίσει = he/she/it will continue

English usually needs a subject pronoun, but Greek often does not.

Usually, yes — unless context makes it clear otherwise.

A learner will normally read this as:

• Even if he/she is absent, he/she will continue or
• Even if it is absent, it will continue

But Greek does not force that interpretation quite as strongly as English does. Context tells you whether both verbs refer to the same person/thing.

Because αν is the word introducing this kind of clause.

English speakers often learn that the subjunctive in Modern Greek is connected with να, but να is not the only trigger. In this sentence, αν is doing that job.

So you get:

• αν λείψει = if he/she is absent

not:

• αν να λείψει ✘

It is a concessive clause.

That means it introduces something that does not prevent the main action from happening:

• Even if X happens, Y will still happen

So here:

• X = λείψει
• Y = θα συνεχίσει

The idea is: absence will not stop the continuation.

Yes.

You could also say:

• Θα συνεχίσει, έστω κι αν λείψει.

This means the same thing:
It/He/She will continue, even if absent / even if he/she is absent.

Putting the concessive clause first, as in the original sentence, gives a slightly stronger setup for the contrast.

That version would sound more like an ongoing or general state:

• even if he/she is away
• even if he/she is absent
• possibly even while absent

The original λείψει points more to a single possible occurrence or event:

• even if he/she happens to be absent
• even if he/she misses it

So the difference is mainly one of aspect:

• λείπει = imperfective
• λείψει = perfective