Learn Hardcore Greek: Από τη στάση πηγαίνεις ευθεία και μετά αριστερά. - From the bus stop you go straight and then left.

Από: [aˈpo]
τη: [ti]
στάση: [ˈsta.si]
πηγαίνεις: [piˈʝe.nis] (the γ before -αι- sounds like the English y in “you”)
ευθεία: [efˈθia] (ευ becomes [ef] before θ)
και: [ce] (like “keh”)
μετά: [meˈta]
αριστερά: [aɾisteˈɾa] (stress on the last syllable)

What’s the word-by-word breakdown?

Από = from
τη = the (feminine, accusative)
στάση = (bus/tram) stop
πηγαίνεις = you go (2nd person singular, present)
ευθεία = straight (ahead)
και = and
μετά = then/after that
αριστερά = left

Why is it τη στάση and not την στάση?

Modern spelling usually drops the final -ν of την before most consonants. It is normally kept before a vowel and before κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, τσ, τζ, γκ. Since στάση starts with σ, writing τη στάση is standard. You may hear or see την στάση, but τη στάση is the usual form.

Which case follows από?

In Modern Greek, simple prepositions (including από) govern the accusative. Hence από τη στάση uses the accusative τη στάση.

What kind of word is ευθεία here?

Here ευθεία functions adverbially meaning “straight (ahead).” It’s homographic with the feminine noun η ευθεία (“a straight line” in geometry), but in directions it acts like an adverb. In everyday speech, many people also say ίσια or κατευθείαν for “straight (ahead).”

Can I say ίσια or κατευθείαν instead of ευθεία?

Yes:

Πηγαίνεις ίσια και μετά αριστερά.
Πηγαίνεις κατευθείαν και μετά αριστερά. All are natural. ίσια is very common; κατευθείαν (also written κατευθεία) means “straight/directly.”

Why use πηγαίνεις (present tense) to give directions?

Greek commonly uses the 2nd person singular present for step-by-step directions, like a running commentary: Πηγαίνεις… στρίβεις… περνάς… It’s the most natural style for guiding someone.

Is πάς/πας an alternative to πηγαίνεις?

Yes. Πας (usually written without an accent) is very common and a bit more colloquial than πηγαίνεις.

Από τη στάση πας ευθεία και μετά αριστερά. Both are correct; πας is shorter and very frequent.

Could I use the imperative for directions?

Absolutely:

Singular/informal: Πήγαινε ευθεία και μετά στρίψε αριστερά.
Plural/polite: Πηγαίνετε ευθεία και μετά στρίψτε αριστερά. Using the future is also common and polite: Θα πας ευθεία και μετά αριστερά.

What’s the difference between αριστερά and αριστερός?

αριστερά is an adverb (“leftwards”) or a noun (“the left”).
αριστερός/ή/ό is the adjective (“left, left-hand”): το αριστερό χέρι (the left hand). For directions you want the adverb: στρίβεις αριστερά (“you turn left”). You can also say στα αριστερά (“to the left/at the left side”).

Could I say “turn left” more explicitly?

Yes:

Στρίβεις αριστερά. = You turn left.
Παίρνεις αριστερά. (colloquial) These can replace και μετά αριστερά if you want to specify the action of turning.

Is the και necessary before μετά?

No. You can say:

Πηγαίνεις ευθεία, μετά αριστερά.
Πηγαίνεις ευθεία και μετά αριστερά. Both are natural. With a comma, μετά works like “then.”

Does μετά here mean “then” or “after”?

Here it means “then.” As a preposition it also means “after” and takes the accusative:

Μετά το φανάρι στρίβεις αριστερά. = After the traffic light, you turn left.

Is Από τη στάση at the start for emphasis? Could I move it?

Fronting Από τη στάση highlights the starting point. Other orders are fine:

Πηγαίνεις από τη στάση ευθεία και μετά αριστερά.
Από τη στάση, πηγαίνεις ευθεία και μετά αριστερά. (comma optional) Word order is flexible; putting the place first is very natural in directions.

Can Από become Απ’ here?

In careful writing, απ’ is used before a vowel (e.g., απ’ το σπίτι). Before a consonant like σ, you’ll typically see από. In casual speech, many people do say απ’ τη στάση, and it’s perfectly understandable.

What exactly does στάση refer to?

In this context, η στάση means a public transport stop (bus, trolley, tram, etc.). Elsewhere it can also mean “posture,” “stance,” or “attitude,” but with directions it’s a transit stop.