Ο πίνακας οδηγιών δείχνει το σχεδιάγραμμα διαφυγής.

Ο is the definite article, meaning the. Greek usually uses the article in places where English also uses the, so ο πίνακας means the board / the panel.

Here, πίνακας is:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative (because it is the subject of the sentence)

So the matching article is ο.

This is a noun phrase made of:

• πίνακας = board / panel
• οδηγιών = of instructions

So literally it is board of instructions or instruction panel/board.

Greek very often uses a genitive noun where English might use:

• of ...
• a noun used like an adjective
• a compound noun

So:

• πίνακας οδηγιών = instruction board / instructions panel
• literally: board of instructions

Οδηγιών is the genitive plural of οδηγία (instruction).

Basic forms:

• η οδηγία = the instruction
• οι οδηγίες = the instructions
• των οδηγιών = of the instructions

In this sentence, Greek uses the genitive to show a relationship:

• πίνακας οδηγιών = board of instructions

So οδηγιών tells us what kind of board it is.

Because the two ideas are being expressed differently.

• οδηγιών is plural because the phrase refers to instructions as a set: board of instructions
• διαφυγής is singular because escape here is treated as a general/abstract idea: diagram of escape, meaning escape diagram or evacuation diagram

This kind of mismatch is very normal between languages. You should not expect Greek to match English number word-for-word.

This is the same basic pattern as πίνακας οδηγιών:

• το σχεδιάγραμμα = the diagram
• διαφυγής = of escape

So literally:

• το σχεδιάγραμμα διαφυγής = the diagram of escape

In natural English, this would usually be something like:

• the escape diagram
• the evacuation diagram
• the escape plan diagram

Again, Greek is using the genitive to express a relationship that English often expresses with a compound noun.

Το is the definite article used here because σχεδιάγραμμα is:

• neuter
• singular
• nominative/accusative

In this sentence, το σχεδιάγραμμα διαφυγής is the direct object of the verb δείχνει, so it is in the accusative.

For many neuter nouns, the nominative and accusative forms are the same, so you see:

• το σχεδιάγραμμα = the diagram

Because it depends on σχεδιάγραμμα and tells you what kind of diagram it is.

• η διαφυγή = escape
• της διαφυγής = of the escape

In the phrase:

• σχεδιάγραμμα διαφυγής

the second noun works like of escape.

This is a very common Greek structure:

• noun + genitive noun

Examples of the same pattern:

• χάρτης πόλης = city map, literally map of a city
• πόρτα εξόδου = exit door, literally door of exit
• σχέδιο δράσης = action plan, literally plan of action

Δείχνει is the 3rd person singular present form of δείχνω (to show).

So:

• δείχνω = I show
• δείχνεις = you show
• δείχνει = he/she/it shows

The subject here is ο πίνακας οδηγιών, which is singular, so the verb is also singular:

• Ο πίνακας οδηγιών δείχνει ...
• The instruction board shows ...

You can tell from both case and meaning.

Subject

Ο πίνακας οδηγιών

• marked with the nominative article ο
• this is the thing doing the action

Object

το σχεδιάγραμμα διαφυγής

• marked with το
• this is the thing being shown

The verb is:

• δείχνει = shows

So the structure is:

• [subject] δείχνει [object]
• The instruction board shows the escape diagram

Not completely. Greek word order is more flexible than English because case endings and articles help show each word’s role.

The neutral, straightforward order here is:

• Ο πίνακας οδηγιών δείχνει το σχεδιάγραμμα διαφυγής.

But other orders can be possible for emphasis, for example:

• Το σχεδιάγραμμα διαφυγής δείχνει ο πίνακας οδηγιών.

That would sound more marked, like:

• It is the escape diagram that the instruction board shows.

So yes, Greek allows more movement, but the given order is the most natural basic one.

Because Greek normally gives an article to each definite noun phrase.

So you have:

• ο πίνακας οδηγιών = the instruction board
• το σχεδιάγραμμα διαφυγής = the escape diagram

English does the same in this sentence:

• The instruction board shows the escape diagram.

Greek articles also give useful grammatical information:

• ο tells you masculine singular nominative
• το tells you neuter singular here

So articles in Greek are doing a lot of work.

Sometimes πίνακας can mean table, but not in every context.

It has several meanings depending on context, such as:

• table/chart
• board/panel
• painting
• dashboard
• notice board

In πίνακας οδηγιών, the most natural meaning is something like:

• instruction board
• information panel
• sign with instructions

So this is a good example of why Greek words often need to be learned in phrases, not just as one fixed English word.

Both are related to the idea of a plan or drawing, but they are not always identical.

σχέδιο

Can mean:

• plan
• design
• draft
• project

σχεδιάγραμμα

More specifically suggests:

• diagram
• schematic drawing
• layout

So in a safety or evacuation context, σχεδιάγραμμα sounds appropriate because it suggests a visual layout or diagram rather than just an abstract plan.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

o PEE-na-kas o-thee-YON THEE-hnee to skhe-THEE-a-gram-ma thee-fee-YEES

A few notes:

• δ sounds like th in this
• θ sounds like th in think
• γ before ι in διαφυγής is like a soft y sound
• stress is important in Greek, so pay attention to:
  • πίνακας
  • οδηγιών
  • δείχνει
  • σχεδιάγραμμα
  • διαφυγής

You do not need a perfect English-style transliteration, but you should try to place the stress correctly.

They are:

• πίνακας → dictionary form already shown here
• οδηγία → dictionary form behind οδηγιών
• δείχνω → dictionary form behind δείχνει
• σχεδιάγραμμα → dictionary form already shown here
• διαφυγή → dictionary form behind διαφυγής

This is useful because Greek words often appear in changed forms in a sentence, especially nouns in the genitive and verbs in conjugated forms.