Learn Hardcore Greek: Ποιος αρχίζει τη συνάντηση; Εγώ ή η φίλη σου; - Who starts the meeting? Me or your friend female?

Ποιος is nominative (subject) masculine singular “who.” It’s used when the gender is unknown or mixed.
If you know you’re asking about a female, many speakers prefer Ποια.
Use Ποιον only for the accusative (object) “whom,” e.g., Ποιον αρχίζει; is wrong because the question word is the subject here.
Forms: masculine ποιος, feminine ποια, neuter ποιο (all nominative).

Do I need to match Ποιος/Ποια to the options given (Εγώ or η φίλη σου)?

Not strictly. Ποιος is a common default when the gender isn’t fixed. If both options are clearly female (e.g., you are female and the friend is female), Ποια is precise and natural: Ποια αρχίζει τη συνάντηση;

Why is the conjunction written as ή but the article as η?

ή (with accent) = “or.”
η (no accent) = feminine nominative singular article “the.”
The accent distinguishes them in monotonic Greek.

Why is it τη συνάντηση and not την συνάντηση?

The final ν in the feminine article is often dropped before most consonants in modern Greek. Keep ν before vowels and certain consonants (κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ). Since σ isn’t on that list, τη συνάντηση is the standard form. την συνάντηση isn’t wrong, just less common in modern usage.

What case is η φίλη σου, and why?

η φίλη σου is nominative because it’s an alternative subject in the elliptical second question. The full idea is “Do I start (it) or does your friend (start it)?” So nominative η (not accusative τη).

Why is εγώ written explicitly? Could I drop it?

Greek usually drops subject pronouns, but εγώ is kept here for contrast (“I or your friend?”). You could still say: Ποιος αρχίζει τη συνάντηση; Εγώ ή η φίλη σου; or even: Ποιος αρχίζει τη συνάντηση; Η φίλη σου ή εγώ; Omitting εγώ would remove the contrast.

Is present tense (αρχίζει) the best choice here? What about θα αρχίσει?

Both are fine:

Ποιος αρχίζει… focuses on the scheduled/nearby action in a neutral, present-time way.
Ποιος θα αρχίσει… is very common for plans and arrangements and can sound slightly more natural in many contexts.

What’s the difference between αρχίζω and ξεκινάω/ξεκινώ?

They’re near-synonyms in this context:

αρχίζω = to begin/start (neutral, very common).
ξεκινάω/ξεκινώ = to set off/start (equally common; sometimes a bit more colloquial with -άω forms).
Here, Ποιος ξεκινάει τη συνάντηση; would mean the same thing.

Can I also say “The meeting starts” in Greek?

Yes. Intransitive use: Η συνάντηση αρχίζει.
Transitive (someone starts it): Κάποιος αρχίζει τη συνάντηση.
Your sentence is the transitive pattern, asking who performs the action.

Why does Greek use a semicolon as a question mark?

In Greek typography, the semicolon (;) is the question mark. So ; ends questions.

How flexible is the word order?

Greek word order is flexible, but the given order is the most neutral: Ποιος αρχίζει τη συνάντηση;
Fronting the object (Ποιος τη συνάντηση αρχίζει;) is possible but sounds marked/emphatic or literary.

How would it change if I meant “your male friend”?

Use the masculine article and noun: ο φίλος σου.
Full sentence: Ποιος αρχίζει τη συνάντηση; Εγώ ή ο φίλος σου;

How do I pronounce and stress these words?

Ποιος: “pios” (one syllable)
αρχίζει: ar-HÍ-zi
τη συνάντηση: ti si-NÁN-ti-si
Εγώ: e-GÓ
η φίλη σου: i FÍ-li su

Can I say “You or your friend?” instead of “I or your friend?”

Yes: Εσύ ή η φίλη σου; That’s often more typical if the speaker isn’t one of the options. Your original sentence makes sense when the speaker is one of the two candidates.

Can I use που for “who” here?

No. που is a relative pronoun (“who/that/which” in relative clauses). For direct questions meaning “who,” use ποιος/ποια/ποιο.

How might I answer this question in Greek?

Short: Εγώ. / Η φίλη μου.
Full: Εγώ θα αρχίσω (τη συνάντηση). / Η φίλη μου θα αρχίσει (τη συνάντηση).
If you’re answering about the other person: Εσύ θα αρχίσεις. / Η φίλη μου θα αρχίσει.