Η σειρήνα ακούγεται.

Η is the feminine singular definite article, so it means the.

A few useful notes:

• In lowercase, it is η
• Here it matches σειρήνα, which is a feminine noun
• It is pronounced ee, not like English h

So Η σειρήνα = the siren.

Because σειρήνα is a feminine noun in Greek, and the article has to agree with it.

That is why you get:

• η σειρήνα = the siren

This is grammatical gender. It does not mean the siren is biologically female; it just means the noun belongs to the feminine gender class.

It is in the nominative singular, because it is the subject of the sentence.

A helpful detail for learners: the noun form σειρήνα looks the same in nominative and accusative singular. The article tells you the difference:

• η σειρήνα = nominative, subject
• τη σειρήνα = accusative, object

So in Η σειρήνα ακούγεται, the article η shows that σειρήνα is the subject.

Ακούγεται is the 3rd person singular, present tense, mediopassive form of the verb ακούω / ακούγομαι.

In this sentence, it means something like:

• is heard
• can be heard
• sometimes, depending on context, sounds

So grammatically, it is not an active form like hears. It is a passive/middle form.

Because the two forms mean different things:

• ακούει = he/she/it hears
• ακούγεται = he/she/it is heard / can be heard

So:

• Η σειρήνα ακούει would mean The siren hears, which is not the intended meaning
• Η σειρήνα ακούγεται means the siren is audible

This is a very common contrast in Greek.

Yes, that is the basic idea.

However, in natural English, you may translate it in different ways depending on context, for example:

• The siren is heard
• The siren can be heard
• You can hear the siren

So the Greek form is mediopassive, even if the best English translation is not always a literal passive sentence.

Not literally, but in context it can come close.

The core meaning of ακούγεται is that the siren is audible or being heard. In real English, that may sometimes be expressed as:

• The siren is sounding
• You can hear the siren

But Greek is focusing on the fact that the sound is heard, not directly on the action of producing the sound.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation is:

ee see-REE-na ah-KOO-ye-te

A slightly more accurate guide:

• Η sounds like ee
• ει in σειρήνα sounds like ee
• ή in σειρήνα is the stressed syllable
• γ before ε in ακούγεται is a soft sound, somewhat like a y sound for English speakers

So the stress is:

• σειρήνα
• ακούγεται

The accent marks show which syllable is stressed.

So:

• σειρήνα is stressed on ρή
• ακούγεται is stressed on κού

This is important in Greek, because stress is part of the correct pronunciation.

The article Η has no accent here because short function words like articles are usually written without one.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English.

You can also say:

• Ακούγεται η σειρήνα.

That is also natural Greek. The difference is mostly one of emphasis or information focus.

Very roughly:

• Η σειρήνα ακούγεται. = neutral, starting with the subject
• Ακούγεται η σειρήνα. = puts more attention on the fact that the siren is being heard

No. Greek usually does not need an explicit subject pronoun when the verb ending already shows the person and number.

Here, the subject is already stated as η σειρήνα, so no extra pronoun is needed.

Greek commonly leaves out pronouns unless there is special emphasis or contrast.

You would usually look up:

• ακούω for the active verb, meaning hear
• ακούγομαι for the mediopassive form, meaning be heard / sound

So ακούγεται is the 3rd person singular form of ακούγομαι. This is useful because Greek dictionaries often list the active and mediopassive forms separately.