Ο γιατρός ελέγχει το νύχι.

A quick breakdown:

• Ο = the for a masculine singular noun in the nominative case
• γιατρός = doctor
• ελέγχει = checks / is checking
• το = the for a neuter singular noun; here it goes with the object
• νύχι = nail (a fingernail or toenail, depending on context)

So the structure is:

Ο γιατρός = the doctor
ελέγχει = checks / is checking
το νύχι = the nail

Because Greek articles change to match the noun’s gender, number, and case.

In this sentence:

• ο γιατρός uses ο because γιατρός is masculine singular
• το νύχι uses το because νύχι is neuter singular

English just uses the for everything, but Greek has different forms.

Greek nouns belong to grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter.

• γιατρός is a masculine noun
• νύχι is a neuter noun

This is a grammar category, not always a statement about real-world sex. With people, gender often matches the person, but with objects or body parts, it is just part of the noun’s grammar.

That is why the article changes too:

• ο γιατρός
• το νύχι

ελέγχει is the 3rd person singular present form of the verb ελέγχω.

That means it is used for:

• he checks
• she checks
• it checks
• and often also is checking

So in this sentence, it means:

• The doctor checks the nail
• or The doctor is checking the nail

Greek present tense often covers both the simple present and the present progressive, depending on context.

Good question. In Greek, the direct object is usually in the accusative case. But with many neuter singular nouns, the nominative and accusative forms are the same.

So:

• το νύχι can be nominative
• το νύχι can also be accusative

That is normal. The noun is still functioning as the object here, even though its form does not look different.

There are a few clues:

1. ο γιατρός has the nominative article ο, which is the normal subject form.
2. ελέγχει is singular, matching ο γιατρός.
3. το νύχι is the thing being checked, so it makes sense as the object.
4. Greek often uses a basic subject–verb–object order, which is exactly what you have here.

So the most natural reading is:

• The doctor = subject
• checks = verb
• the nail = object

A rough pronunciation is:

o ya-TROS e-LE-nghee to NY-khee

A few helpful notes:

• γιατρός starts with a sound a bit like y in yes
• χ is not an English k sound; it is a throat/fricative sound
• νύχι has that same χ sound
• the stressed syllables are:
  • γιατρός
  • ελέγχει
  • νύχι

The exact sounds are not identical to English, but that rough guide is enough to get started.

The accent mark in modern Greek shows which syllable is stressed.

So:

• γιατρός → stress on the last syllable
• ελέγχει → stress on the second syllable
• νύχι → stress on the first syllable

Unlike in English, Greek normally writes these stress marks, so they are an important part of spelling.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

The most neutral order here is:

Ο γιατρός ελέγχει το νύχι.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, contrast, or style.

For example, you might move το νύχι earlier if you want to focus on it. Still, for a learner, subject + verb + object is the safest and most natural pattern to start with.

In this sentence, ο γιατρός refers to a male doctor, because ο is the masculine article.

To refer to a female doctor, modern Greek commonly uses:

• η γιατρός

So the noun itself often stays the same, while the article changes.

It can mean either fingernail or toenail.

Greek often uses νύχι as a general word for nail. Context tells you which one is meant.

If the situation is a medical check, either is possible unless something else specifies it.

In normal Greek, that would sound unnatural here.

Greek uses the definite article much more regularly than English. With a normal sentence like this, you usually keep the articles:

• Ο γιατρός ελέγχει το νύχι.

Dropping them might happen in special styles such as headlines, notes, or very telegraphic speech, but not in ordinary standard phrasing.