Learn Hardcore Greek: Δεν μένω πια πίσω από το πάρκο.

πια is an adverb meaning “anymore / any longer” in negative contexts, and it signals a change of state (it was true before, but not now). It can also mean “by now” or “enough already” in other contexts, but here it means “no longer/anymore.”

Where can πια go in the sentence? Is the position fixed?

It most commonly follows the verb: Δεν μένω πια…
You can also front it for emphasis: Πια δεν μένω… (puts focus on the “no longer”).
Avoid placing it at the very end of the clause. The neutral order here is exactly what you see: Δεν μένω πια πίσω από…

Why is it δεν and not μην?

Greek uses:

δεν for ordinary (indicative) statements and questions: Δεν μένω…
μην with the subjunctive/imperatives or after να, ας, etc.: να μην μείνω, μην μείνεις.
Since this is a plain statement, δεν is required.

Can the final -ν of δεν drop? Is δε μένω okay?

Yes. Before most consonants, speakers often drop it: δε μένω.
Keep the -ν before vowels: δεν έχω.
Many also keep it before κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ and the clusters μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ. Here, with μένω (m-), both δε μένω and δεν μένω are acceptable.

Does μένω mean “to live” or “to stay”?

Both. Μένω can mean:

“I live/reside” (most common for addresses)
“I stay/remain” (e.g., stay at a hotel, stay behind)
For place of residence, Greek prefers μένω over ζω. Κατοικώ also means “reside,” but it’s more formal/bureaucratic.

Why is it πίσω από and not just πίσω?

With a following noun, Greek typically uses the compound preposition πίσω από (“behind”).

Correct with noun: πίσω από το πάρκο
Without a complement (just “behind/back”), you can use πίσω alone: Πήγαινε πίσω!
With pronouns, both patterns exist: πίσω από αυτόν or clitic genitive πίσω του.

Do I need the article το in το πάρκο? Could I say πίσω από πάρκο?

Greek normally uses the definite article with specific places: πίσω από το πάρκο.
Bare nouns after prepositions are rare and usually sound unidiomatic here. Use το unless you mean “behind a park (any park),” which would be πίσω από ένα πάρκο.

What case does από take? Why is it still το πάρκο?

από governs the accusative. το πάρκο is neuter singular, and its nominative and accusative forms are identical, so it looks the same. (With other nouns you would see the accusative change more clearly.)

Can I contract από to απ’ here?

Yes. In everyday speech and writing you’ll often see απ’ το πάρκο. Both από το and απ’ το are fine.

Is there an alternative to πια, like “no longer” in a more formal tone?

Yes: πλέον is a bit more formal: Δεν μένω πλέον πίσω από το πάρκο.
You may also hear άλλο in negatives, but it tends to emphasize duration (“any longer” in a temporal sense): Δεν μένω άλλο εκεί.

How does word order affect emphasis?

Neutral: Δεν μένω πια πίσω από το πάρκο.
Focus on the location (contrastive): Πίσω από το πάρκο δεν μένω πια.
Focus on the change (“no longer”): Πια δεν μένω πίσω από το πάρκο.
Greek allows such fronting for emphasis without changing the core meaning.

Could I use ζω instead of μένω?

You can say Δεν ζω πια…, but for an address or where someone lives, μένω is the default and sounds most natural. ζω is broader (“live one’s life,” “be alive”) and can feel less address-specific.

How would I express “I used to live there, but now I don’t”?

Use the imperfect for the past habit/state and the same negative with πια for the present change:

Έμενα εκεί παλιά, αλλά τώρα δεν μένω πια πίσω από το πάρκο.
(You can replace εκεί with the specific location if needed.)

Any pronunciation tips, especially for πια and πίσω?

πια is one syllable, pronounced like “pya” ([pja]); it never takes an accent mark.
πίσω is stressed on the first syllable: PÍ-so.
In fast speech, από το often sounds like απ’ το.
μένω is “ME-no,” with stress on the first syllable.

Is πια the same as πιο?

No.

πια = “anymore / any longer / no longer” (or “by now” in other contexts).
πιο = “more” (comparative adverb), as in πιο μεγάλο (“bigger”).
They are unrelated in meaning and used in different structures.