Learn Hardcore Greek: Η γυναίκα που μιλάει μαζί μου δουλεύει στο μαγαζί. - The woman who is talking with me works at the shop.

Η is the feminine singular nominative definite article (“the”). It’s used because γυναίκα (“woman”) is a feminine noun and is the subject of the sentence. For reference: ο (masc.), η (fem.), το (neut.).

What exactly is που here? Is it the same as πού?

Here που is an invariable relative particle meaning “who/that/which”; it introduces the relative clause. It has no accent. πού (with an accent) means “where?” as a question word. So:

που = that/who/which (no accent)
πού = where? (accented)

Could I use η οποία instead of που? When would I?

Yes. Η γυναίκα η οποία μιλάει μαζί μου δουλεύει στο μαγαζί. is correct but more formal. The set ο/η/το οποίος agrees in gender/number/case and works well with prepositions, e.g. Η γυναίκα με την οποία μιλάω… (“the woman with whom I speak”). In everyday speech, που is far more common.

Why μιλάει and not μιλά? Are both correct?

Both are correct 3rd person singular forms of μιλάω/μιλώ (“to speak”):

μιλάει = fuller form
μιλά = shorter, very common colloquial form In fast speech many people pronounce μιλάει almost like μιλά.

Is μιλάει μαζί μου the only way to say “talks to/with me”?

No. Common options include:

μου μιλάει = “talks to me” (very common; uses the clitic μου)
μιλάει σε μένα/σε εμένα = “talks to me” (with σε)
μιλάει με εμένα = “talks with me” (a bit more emphatic)
μιλάει μαζί μου = “talks with me” Nuance: σε/μου lean toward “to me”; με/μαζί toward “with me,” but in many contexts English translates them similarly.

Why is it μαζί μου and not μαζί με εμένα?

μαζί literally means “together.” With pronouns, you typically attach the genitive clitic: μαζί μου/σου/του/της/μας/σας/τους. With full nouns or stressed pronouns, use μαζί με: μαζί με τον Γιάννη, μαζί με εμένα. μαζί μου is the unmarked, natural choice with “me.”

What does δουλεύει mean, and is there a more formal alternative?

δουλεύει = “(she) works” (3rd sg of δουλεύω). It’s neutral and very common. A more formal/bureaucratic synonym is εργάζεται. Note: δουλεύω can also mean “to function/operate” for machines and, colloquially, “to trick” (not here).

What does στο mean? How is it formed?

στο is the contraction of σε + το (“in/at/to + the”) for neuter nouns. Other useful contractions:

σε + τον → στον
σε + τη(ν) → στη/στην
σε + τα → στα
σε + τους/τις → στους/στις Here μαγαζί is neuter, so we get στο μαγαζί.

Why στο μαγαζί and not σε ένα μαγαζί? Does it change the meaning?

Yes:

δουλεύει στο μαγαζί = “works at the shop” (a specific, known shop)
δουλεύει σε ένα μαγαζί = “works at a shop” (unspecified) You can also say δουλεύει σε μαγαζί (no article) for the non-specific meaning.

What exactly does μαγαζί mean? Is it formal or informal? What’s the plural?

μαγαζί means “shop/store,” the everyday word (informal-neutral). A more formal term is κατάστημα. Gender/number:

Singular: το μαγαζί
Plural: τα μαγαζιά Diminutive: μαγαζάκι (“little shop”).

How flexible is the word order? Can I move parts of the sentence around?

Greek word order is flexible, but keep the relative clause next to its noun:

Acceptable: Δουλεύει στο μαγαζί η γυναίκα που μιλάει μαζί μου.
Not acceptable: Η γυναίκα δουλεύει στο μαγαζί που μιλάει μαζί μου. (This wrongly makes the clause modify “shop.”) You can reorder for emphasis, but preserve clarity and the attachment of the relative clause.

How do I pronounce the tricky letters in this sentence?

Tips:

Η/η sounds like “ee.”
γ is a soft “y/gh” before front vowels (ε, αι, η, ι, υ, ει) and a harder “gh” before back vowels (α, ο, ου).
γυναίκα ≈ “yi-NE-ka” (the αι sounds like “e”).
μιλάει ≈ “mee-LA-ee” (often just heard as “mee-LA”).
μαζί ≈ “ma-ZEE.”
δουλεύει: δ is the “th” of “this”: “thoo-LE-vi.”
μαγαζί: “ma-gha-ZEE.” Whole sentence: “Ee yi-NE-ka pu mee-LA(-ee) ma-ZEE mu thoo-LE-vi sto ma-gha-ZEE.”

Does μιλάει mean “is speaking” or “speaks”?

Both. The Greek present covers simple and progressive aspects. To stress “right now,” add τώρα near the verb: Η γυναίκα που μιλάει τώρα μαζί μου….

Should there be a comma before που here?

No. This is a restrictive relative clause (it specifies which woman), so no comma: Η γυναίκα που μιλάει μαζί μου…. Use commas only for non-restrictive, parenthetical info: Η Μαρία, που μιλάει μαζί μου, δουλεύει στο μαγαζί.