Μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα.

You learn Greek easily when you speak every day.

Breakdown of Μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα.

• μιλάω: to speak
• ελληνικά: in Greek
• κάθε μέρα: every day
• όταν: when
• μαθαίνω: to learn
• εύκολα: easily

Questions & Answers about Μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα.

Why is there no word for you in the Greek sentence?

In Greek, subject pronouns (like εσύ = you) are usually dropped because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• Μαθαίνεις ends in -εις, which clearly marks 2nd person singular (you).
• So μαθαίνεις by itself means you learn.
• If you added εσύ, as in Εσύ μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά…, it would sound more emphatic, like You learn Greek easily… (as opposed to someone else).

So the subject you is understood from the verb ending; you only say εσύ when you want to stress it.

What tense is μαθαίνεις, and what nuance does it have?

Μαθαίνεις is present tense, indicative mood, active voice, 2nd person singular of μαθαίνω (to learn).

In this sentence, the present tense expresses a general / habitual truth, not an action happening right now:

• Μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα.
  = You learn Greek easily when you speak every day. (in general)

Other related forms:

• Θα μάθεις ελληνικά = You will learn Greek (future, one overall result).
• Μαθαίνεις τώρα ελληνικά; = Are you learning Greek now? (present, ongoing right now, depending on context).

Here, the present tense is used for a general rule: whenever you have this habit, this result happens.

Why is it εύκολα and not εύκολο?

Εύκολα is an adverb meaning easily.
Εύκολο is an adjective meaning easy (neuter singular).

In English you need an adverb after learn:

• You learn easily. (not You learn easy in standard English)

Similarly in Greek:

• Μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά. = You learn Greek easily.

Using εύκολο here would be ungrammatical, unless you changed the structure, for example:

• Τα ελληνικά είναι εύκολα. = Greek is easy.

So: εύκολα modifies the verb μαθαίνεις (how you learn), while εύκολο would modify a noun.

Why is ελληνικά used for Greek (language), and why is it plural?

In Modern Greek, the names of many languages are neuter plural adjectives used as nouns.

• ελληνικά = Greek (the Greek language)
• Literally it is the neuter plural of the adjective ελληνικός (Greek).

Even though it looks plural, it usually means the language in general, just like English Greek.

You could also say:

• η ελληνική γλώσσα = the Greek language

but in everyday speech, τα ελληνικά (often without the article) is the normal way to say Greek as a language.

Why is there no article before ελληνικά? Why not τα ελληνικά?

Both are possible:

• Μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά…
• Μαθαίνεις εύκολα τα ελληνικά…

In general statements about languages, Greek often drops the article, especially after verbs like μαθαίνω (learn), μιλάω (speak), ξέρω (know):

• Μαθαίνω ελληνικά. = I’m learning Greek.
• Μιλάω αγγλικά. = I speak English.

Adding the article (τα ελληνικά) is also correct, but can sound a bit more specific or school / course oriented, depending on context:

• Μαθαίνεις τα ελληνικά γρήγορα. = You’re learning Greek quickly. (could imply a specific course or “this language” you’re studying.)

In your sentence, the article is simply optional, and leaving it out is very natural.

Can the word order be changed? For example, can I say Όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα, μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά?

Yes. Greek word order is fairly flexible, and your version is completely natural:

• Όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα, μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά.

This simply puts the condition first (When you speak every day, …), which is also common in English.

Other natural orders include:

• Μαθαίνεις ελληνικά εύκολα όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα.
• Ελληνικά μαθαίνεις εύκολα όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα. (more emphasis on ελληνικά)

Changing the position of εύκολα usually just changes the rhythm or slight emphasis, but the basic meaning stays the same.

The only thing that doesn’t change is the verb endings, which carry the core grammatical information.

Why is it μιλάς and not λες? Aren’t both to speak / to say?

Greek distinguishes two common verbs:

• μιλάω / μιλώ → μιλάς = to talk, to speak (a language, with someone)
• λέω → λες = to say, to tell (a specific phrase, sentence, information)

In this sentence we’re talking about speaking the language regularly:

• μιλάς κάθε μέρα = you speak (it) every day / you talk every day

So μιλάς is the natural choice.
Λες κάθε μέρα would mean you say (things) every day, which doesn’t express the idea of practicing a language in the same way.

Why is μιλάς also in the present tense after όταν? Could it be όταν μιλήσεις?

Here, όταν μιλάς uses the present tense to express a repeated / habitual action:

• όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα = when(ever) you speak every day / whenever you speak (as a habit)

You could say όταν μιλήσεις, but that changes the meaning:

• όταν μιλήσεις (aorist) = when you speak (once, at some point in the future, after you have spoken)

So:

• Μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα.
  = general rule, repeated action, habit.

• Θα μάθεις ελληνικά όταν μιλήσεις περισσότερο.
  = You will learn Greek when you speak more. (refers to some point after you increase your speaking)

For describing a regular habit, όταν + present is the correct choice.

What is the difference between κάθε μέρα, κάθε ημέρα, and καθημερινά?

All are related to every day, but differ in style and form:

• κάθε μέρα
  – Most common in everyday speech.
  – Means every day.

• κάθε ημέρα
  – More formal / written, or careful speech.
  – Also every day, same meaning.

• καθημερινά
  – An adverb meaning daily / on a daily basis.
  – You could say: Μιλάς ελληνικά καθημερινά. = You speak Greek daily.

In your sentence, κάθε μέρα is perfectly natural and standard.

How would I say this politely to someone older or to more than one person?

Your sentence is in informal singular (μαθαίνεις, μιλάς).

For formal (speaking politely to one person) or plural (to several people), you use the 2nd person plural forms:

• Μαθαίνετε εύκολα ελληνικά όταν μιλάτε κάθε μέρα.

Here:

• μαθαίνετε = you learn (formal or plural)
• μιλάτε = you speak (formal or plural)

Greek uses the same forms both for plural “you” and polite singular “you”, similar to languages like French (vous) or German (Sie).

How is μαθαίνεις pronounced, and what does the ending -εις tell me?

Μαθαίνεις is pronounced roughly:

• /ma-THÉ-nis/
  – μα = /ma/
  – θαί = /ðe/ (like th in this
  • e)
    – νεις = /nis/

The ending -εις is the regular marker for 2nd person singular in the present tense for many verbs:

• μαθαίνω → μαθαίνεις (you learn)
• γράφω → γράφεις (you write)
• διαβάζω → διαβάζεις (you read / study)

So when you see -εις at the end of a verb in the present tense, it almost always means you (singular).

Could I also say Μαθαίνεις ελληνικά εύκολα όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα? Does it change the meaning?

Yes, you can say:

• Μαθαίνεις ελληνικά εύκολα όταν μιλάς κάθε μέρα.

The meaning is essentially the same: You learn Greek easily when you speak every day.

The difference is very slight and mostly about rhythm / emphasis:

• Μαθαίνεις εύκολα ελληνικά… puts a tiny bit more emphasis on how you learn (easily) right after the verb.
• Μαθαίνεις ελληνικά εύκολα… feels a bit more neutral, with ελληνικά directly after μαθαίνεις.

Both are natural; native speakers freely alternate between these patterns.