Η γάστρα κρατάει τον ατμό.

Η is the feminine singular definite article, meaning the.

So:

• η = the for feminine singular nouns in the nominative
• γάστρα is a feminine noun

That is why you get Η γάστρα = the roasting pan / the baking dish / the Dutch oven.

Γάστρα is a cooking word. Its exact English equivalent can vary by context, because it refers to a covered cooking vessel used for roasting or baking.

Depending on the situation, it might be translated as:

• roasting pan
• covered baking dish
• Dutch oven
• clay pot

So it is not always a perfect one-word match in English. The important idea is that it is a container used for cooking, especially one that can keep heat and steam inside.

In Greek, every noun has grammatical gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter.
Γάστρα happens to be feminine, so it takes feminine forms such as:

• η γάστρα = the roasting pan
• τη(ν) γάστρα = the roasting pan as an object

This is grammatical gender, so it does not mean the object is literally female. It is just part of how the noun behaves in Greek.

Here κρατάει means something like:

• keeps
• holds
• retains
• traps

In this cooking context, it means the pan keeps in or retains the steam.

The basic verb is κρατάω / κρατώ, which often means:

• to hold
• to keep
• to retain

So Η γάστρα κρατάει τον ατμό means the vessel retains the steam.

Κρατάει is third person singular present tense.

That means it goes with he/she/it. Since η γάστρα is singular, the verb must also be singular:

• η γάστρα = the pan
• κρατάει = keeps

So literally the grammar is:

• The pan keeps the steam

Even though γάστρα is feminine, Greek uses the same third person singular verb form for he, she, and it in the present tense.

Yes. In Modern Greek, both are common:

• κρατάει
• κρατά

Both mean keeps / is keeping here.

The longer form κρατάει is very common in everyday language and often feels a bit clearer to learners, because the ending is easier to notice.
The shorter form κρατά is also completely normal.

So you may see:

• Η γάστρα κρατάει τον ατμό
• Η γάστρα κρατά τον ατμό

Both are correct.

Because τον ατμό is the direct object of the verb.

The noun ατμός changes form depending on its role in the sentence:

• ο ατμός = the steam as the subject
• τον ατμό = the steam as the object

Here, the steam is the thing being kept/held, so Greek uses the accusative case:

• ο ατμός → nominative
• τον ατμό → accusative

This is one of the most important patterns in Greek grammar.

This is a normal masculine noun pattern.

Many masculine nouns in -ος change like this:

• nominative singular: ο ατμός
• accusative singular: τον ατμό

So the -ος ending becomes -ό in the accusative singular.

You can compare it to other masculine nouns:

• ο δρόμος → τον δρόμο
• ο φίλος → τον φίλο
• ο χρόνος → τον χρόνο

So ατμός → ατμό follows a very common pattern.

Greek uses the definite article more often than English does.

So Greek naturally says:

• τον ατμό = the steam

Even in places where English might prefer just steam, Greek often keeps the article.
That does not always mean the speaker wants to stress a very specific steam; it is simply normal Greek usage.

Because in Greek, the verb κρατάω can already imply retain / keep inside, depending on context.

So:

• Η γάστρα κρατάει τον ατμό

naturally means that the cooking vessel holds onto or retains the steam.

English often adds in:

• The pan keeps the steam in

Greek does not need a separate word here, because the idea of retention is already built into the verb plus object.

No, Greek word order is more flexible than English word order because case endings help show each word’s role.

The neutral, straightforward order here is:

• Η γάστρα κρατάει τον ατμό.

That is basically subject + verb + object.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Τον ατμό κρατάει η γάστρα.

This might put more focus on the steam.

Still, for learners, the original order is the safest and most natural one to use first.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• Η γάστρα κρατάει τον ατμό
• ee GAS-tra kra-TA-ee ton at-MO

A few helpful points:

• η sounds like ee
• γ before α here is like a soft Greek g, not exactly the same as English g
• αι in κρατάει sounds like e in Modern Greek, so κρατάει is pronounced roughly kra-TA-ee
• the stress falls on:
  • ΓΆστρα
  • κραΤΆει
  • ατΜΌ

You add δεν before the verb:

• Η γάστρα δεν κρατάει τον ατμό.
• The pan does not keep the steam in.

So the pattern is:

• Subject + δεν + verb + object

For example:

• Η γάστρα κρατάει τον ατμό. = The pan keeps the steam in.
• Η γάστρα δεν κρατάει τον ατμό. = The pan does not keep the steam in.

Yes. Greek often drops subject pronouns, because the verb form already shows the person and number.

So instead of repeating η γάστρα, you could simply say:

• Κρατάει τον ατμό.

This can mean:

• It keeps the steam in.

If the context is clear, Greek does not need to say it explicitly. This is very common.