Learn Hardcore Greek: Η μαθήτρια δεν καταλαβαίνει καλά το μάθημα και θέλει βοήθεια. - The student female does not understand the class well and wants help.

Slow, natural pronunciation (IPA): [i maˈθitria ðen katalaˈveni kaˈla to ˈmaθima ce/ke ˈθeli voˈiθia]
Approximate guide: ee ma-THI-tria THEN kata-la-VE-ni ka-LA to MA-thi-ma ke THE-li vo-EE-thia
Notes:

Stress falls on: μαθήτρια (θή), καταλαβαίνει (βαι), καλά (λά), μάθημα (μά), θέλει (θέ), βοήθεια (ή).
Many speakers pronounce βοήθεια as [voˈiθja] (vo-EE-thya), merging -ια to a -ya sound.

Why is there no accent on Η, and what’s the difference between η and ή?

η (no accent) is the feminine singular article “the.” At the start of a sentence it’s capitalized as Η and still carries no accent.
ή (with accent) is the conjunction “or.” Its accent is required to distinguish it from the article. So in this sentence, Η is the article “the,” not “or.”

Why is it Η μαθήτρια (“the student”) and not Μια μαθήτρια (“a student”)?

Η μαθήτρια refers to a specific, identifiable female student (the listener is expected to know who).
Μια μαθήτρια (also written μία when emphasizing the numeral “one”) introduces a new, unspecified female student. If you mean “A student doesn’t understand…,” say Μια μαθήτρια δεν καταλαβαίνει…

What exactly does μαθήτρια mean? Is it any “student”?

μαθήτρια = a (female) school student/pupil (primary or secondary). Male: μαθητής.
For a (female) university student, use φοιτήτρια (male: φοιτητής).

What form are καταλαβαίνει and θέλει?

Both are 3rd person singular, present tense, indicative, imperfective aspect:

καταλαβαίνει = “she understands / is understanding” (from καταλαβαίνω). Mini-paradigm: εγώ καταλαβαίνω, εσύ καταλαβαίνεις, αυτός/αυτή καταλαβαίνει.
θέλει = “she wants” (from θέλω). Mini-paradigm: εγώ θέλω, εσύ θέλεις, αυτός/αυτή θέλει.

How does negation work with δεν here?

δεν is the standard negator before finite (indicative) verbs: δεν καταλαβαίνει.
In casual speech you may hear δε before a consonant, but in writing use δεν.
Don’t use μη(ν) here; μη(ν) negates non-indicative forms (e.g., with να, imperatives).

Why is it καλά and not καλός?

καλά is an adverb meaning “well” and modifies the verb: δεν καταλαβαίνει καλά = “doesn’t understand well.”
καλός is the adjective “good” and would modify a noun, not the verb.

What case is το μάθημα, and why is there an article?

το μάθημα is accusative singular (direct object of καταλαβαίνει).
Neuter nouns take το in both nominative and accusative singular. The article is natural in Greek when referring to a specific lesson/course.

Could I say την μάθημα since “lesson” sounds feminine in English?

No. μάθημα is neuter in Greek, so the article must be το: το μάθημα.
Feminine would take τη(ν) (e.g., τη γλώσσα), but that doesn’t apply here.

Can the adverb καλά move around in the sentence?

Yes, adverbs are fairly flexible:

Η μαθήτρια δεν καταλαβαίνει καλά το μάθημα. (neutral)
Η μαθήτρια δεν καταλαβαίνει το μάθημα καλά. (slight focus on the object)
With a pronoun: Η μαθήτρια δεν το καταλαβαίνει καλά. (very natural)

If I replace το μάθημα with a pronoun, where does it go?

Use the clitic το before the verb:

Η μαθήτρια δεν το καταλαβαίνει καλά και θέλει βοήθεια. Clitic pronouns usually come before a simple finite verb (they go after only with imperatives, gerunds, or certain periphrastic forms).

Does θέλει βοήθεια mean “wants help” or “needs help”?

Primarily “wants help,” but in everyday Greek θέλει + noun can also mean “requires/needs.”

Clear “needs”: χρειάζεται βοήθεια.
So both are acceptable depending on nuance; χρειάζεται βοήθεια is unambiguously “needs help.”

Why is there no article before βοήθεια?

Abstract or mass-like nouns often appear without an article when used in a general/indefinite sense:

θέλει βοήθεια = “(she) wants/needs help (in general).” Add the article for specific help: θέλει τη βοήθεια του δασκάλου = “(she) wants the teacher’s help.”

What does και do here, and do I need a comma?

και = “and,” linking two clauses with the same subject. No comma is needed.
To express consequence explicitly, you can say: …δεν καταλαβαίνει καλά το μάθημα, γι’ αυτό θέλει βοήθεια. (“…she doesn’t understand well, therefore she wants help.”)

What’s the difference between μάθημα, τάξη, and “class/course” in English?

μάθημα = lesson/session or a course/subject (context decides).
τάξη = classroom or class (the group of students).
So “understand the lesson/course content” is naturally το μάθημα, not η τάξη.

Any pronunciation pitfalls (letters like θ, δ, β, and the vowels)?

θ = th in “think” [θ]; δ = th in “this” [ð]; β = v, not b.
η, ει, ι, υ, οι often sound like [i].
βοήθεια has a hiatus ο-ή (vo-EE-), then θεια often sounds [θja].
In fast speech, the n in δεν may assimilate before κ: [ðeŋ katalaˈveni].

How would I say this in the past (a single completed event)?

Η μαθήτρια δεν κατάλαβε καλά το μάθημα και ζήτησε βοήθεια.
(“The student didn’t understand the lesson well and asked for help.”)
Here κατάλαβε is the aorist (perfective) of καταλαβαίνω, and ζήτησε is aorist of ζητάω (“ask for”).
Imperfect for ongoing/habitual past: Η μαθήτρια δεν καταλάβαινε καλά το μάθημα και ήθελε βοήθεια.

Can I use κι instead of και?

κι is a euphonic variant of και, typically used before a vowel sound or for rhythm.
Here, because θέλει starts with a consonant, standard και is more common: …το μάθημα και θέλει… (You’ll still see/hear κι in many contexts; it isn’t “wrong.”)

Is there a difference between δεν καταλαβαίνει καλά το μάθημα and δεν κατανοεί καλά το μάθημα?

καταλαβαίνει is the everyday verb “understand.”
κατανοεί is more formal/elevated (“comprehends”).
Both are correct; the original is more colloquial and common.