Breakdown of Η αδερφή μου μένει σε άλλη πόλη και πάει στο πανεπιστήμιο.
και
and
πάω
to go
μου
my
μένω
to live
Questions & Answers about Η αδερφή μου μένει σε άλλη πόλη και πάει στο πανεπιστήμιο.
Why is the word for my (μου) placed after αδερφή instead of before, like in English?
In Greek, unstressed possessive pronouns like μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους normally come after the noun:
- η αδερφή μου = my sister
- ο φίλος σου = your friend
- το σπίτι μας = our house
Putting them before the noun (η μου αδερφή) is either wrong in modern everyday Greek or sounds very old‑fashioned/poetic. So the natural order is:
article + noun + possessive pronoun
→ η αδερφή μου
Do we really need the article Η in Η αδερφή μου? Why not just Αδερφή μου?
In Greek, you almost always use the definite article with family members and other specific people, even if English doesn’t:
- η αδερφή μου = literally the sister my → my sister
- ο πατέρας μου = my father
- η φίλη μου = my (female) friend
Saying αδερφή μου without η is possible in vocative (when you address someone directly), e.g.:
- Αδερφή μου, έλα εδώ. = My sister, come here.
But in a normal statement like our sentence, you need the article:
Η αδερφή μου μένει…
What is the difference between αδερφή and αδελφή?