Το πλευρό πονάει όταν αναπνέω.

In this sentence, πλευρό can mean the side of the torso or a rib-area pain, depending on context. In everyday English, a natural translation is often My side hurts when I breathe.

A few useful distinctions:

• το πλευρό = the side / rib area / rib
• η πλευρά = the side, side part, aspect, direction, or team/side in a broader sense

So in a medical or body-related context, πλευρό is very natural.

Το is the definite article meaning the. It agrees with πλευρό, which is:

• neuter
• singular
• nominative

So:

• το πλευρό = the side / the rib

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English does. With body parts especially, Greek often prefers the article where English may use my or sometimes no article at all.

Good question. Greek often leaves out the possessive μου when it is obvious from context that we are talking about the speaker’s body.

So all of these can occur:

• Το πλευρό πονάει όταν αναπνέω.
• Το πλευρό μου πονάει όταν αναπνέω.

The version with μου is more explicit: My side hurts when I breathe.

The version without μου is still understandable, especially if the speaker is obviously talking about their own pain. Greek does this quite a lot with body parts.

Because the subject is το πλευρό, which is singular.

• το πλευρό = singular
• πονάει = it hurts / hurts (3rd person singular)

So the structure is:

• Το πλευρό πονάει = The side hurts / My side hurts

Even though πλευρό is neuter, the verb form in the present tense is just the normal 3rd person singular form.

Both are used.

From the verb πονάω / πονώ (to hurt, to be in pain), you can hear:

• πονάει
• πονά

Both mean the same thing here.

So these are both natural:

• Το πλευρό πονάει όταν αναπνέω.
• Το πλευρό πονά όταν αναπνέω.

In everyday speech, πονάει is very common.

Αναπνέω is the 1st person singular present tense of αναπνέω, meaning I breathe.

So:

• αναπνέω = I breathe

That is why the second part means:

• όταν αναπνέω = when I breathe

Greek often drops the subject pronoun, so you do not need εγώ here. The verb ending already tells you the subject is I.

Όταν means when.

It introduces a time clause:

• όταν αναπνέω = when I breathe

So the whole sentence is structured like this:

• Το πλευρό πονάει = the side hurts
• όταν αναπνέω = when I breathe

Together:

• The side hurts when I breathe.

A clause with όταν is very common in Greek and works much like English when.

Because Greek does not need a separate subject pronoun like English it when the subject is already stated.

In English, you say:

• The side hurts

In Greek:

• Το πλευρό πονάει

The noun το πλευρό is the subject, so there is no need for an extra pronoun.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English.

This sentence can appear in other natural orders, for example:

• Όταν αναπνέω, το πλευρό πονάει.
• Το πλευρό μου πονάει όταν αναπνέω.
• Πονάει το πλευρό όταν αναπνέω.

These versions are all understandable, though the emphasis may shift a little.

The original order is perfectly normal.

Yes, very often.

Greek commonly uses two patterns with pain:

1. Το πλευρό πονάει.

   • The side hurts.

2. Με πονάει το πλευρό.

   • Literally: The side hurts me
   • Natural meaning: My side hurts

Both are used in everyday Greek. The second pattern is especially common when talking about pain in conversation.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• Το ≈ to
• πλευρό ≈ plev-RO
• πονάει ≈ po-NA-ee
• όταν ≈ O-tan
• αναπνέω ≈ a-nap-NE-o

Very roughly as a full sentence:

to plev-RO po-NA-ee O-tan a-nap-NE-o

The stressed syllables are:

• πλευρό
• πονάει
• όταν
• αναπνέω

It is understandable and grammatical, but in everyday speech many speakers would make it a bit more explicit, especially with body pain.

Very natural alternatives include:

• Το πλευρό μου πονάει όταν αναπνέω.
• Με πονάει το πλευρό όταν αναπνέω.
• Πονάει το πλευρό μου όταν αναπνέω.

So the given sentence is fine, but learners should know that Greek speakers often include μου or use the με πονάει pattern when talking about their own body.