Learn Hardcore Greek: Μιλάω με τη φίλη μου για το σχέδιο. - I am talking with my friend about the plan.

Modern Greek does not use an infinitive the way English does (no form like to speak). Instead, Greek uses finite verb forms after particles like να, θα, etc.:

μιλάω / μιλώ = I speak / I am speaking
να μιλήσω = (in order) to speak / that I speak
θα μιλήσω = I will speak

So Μιλάω already includes the subject I in its ending.

What is the difference between μιλάω and μιλώ?

Μιλάω and μιλώ are two accepted present forms of the same verb μιλάω / μιλώ (to speak, to talk).

Both mean I speak / I am speaking.
Μιλάω is more common in everyday spoken Greek.
Μιλώ sounds a bit more formal or literary, but is also used in normal speech.

You can treat them as interchangeable in most situations.

Why is there no εγώ (I) in the sentence?

Greek usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person:

Μιλάω = I speak (the I is understood)
μιλάς = you speak
μιλάει / μιλά = he/she/it speaks

You would add εγώ only for emphasis or contrast:

Εγώ μιλάω με τη φίλη μου = I am talking with my friend (not someone else).

Why is it με τη φίλη μου and not με η φίλη μου?

In Greek, the definite article changes form depending on case, gender, and number.

The basic feminine singular article is η (nominative):
- η φίλη = the friend (subject)
After the preposition με (with), you must use the accusative case, and the feminine accusative singular article is τη(ν):
- με τη φίλη = with the friend

So με + η φίλη is not allowed; it must be με τη φίλη (full form την).

Why is it τη φίλη and not την φίλη? What happened to the ν?

The full accusative feminine article is την. In modern Greek, the final ν is often dropped in speech and informal writing before many consonants.

Rules (modern standard usage): keep the ν mainly

before vowels
before the consonants κ, π, τ, μπ, ντ, γκ, ξ, ψ

So:

την Άννα (keep ν before a vowel)
την καρέκλα (keep ν before κ)
τη φίλη (usually drop ν before φ)

So τη φίλη is perfectly normal. You’ll also see την φίλη in more careful or older writing.

Why is φίλη (friend) feminine, and what is the masculine form?

Greek marks grammatical gender on nouns:

η φίλη = the female friend (feminine)
ο φίλος = the male friend (masculine)

In your sentence, τη φίλη μου clearly refers to a female friend because of:

the feminine noun φίλη
the feminine article τη

If you were talking about a male friend, you’d say:

Μιλάω με τον φίλο μου για το σχέδιο.
- τον = masculine accusative article
- φίλο = masculine form of φίλος

Does η φίλη μου mean my friend or my girlfriend?

Η φίλη μου literally means my (female) friend. Context decides whether it’s just a friend or a romantic partner.

Common ways to be clearer:

η φίλη μου – usually: my female friend (could be either, depending on context)
η κοπέλα μου – strongly suggests my girlfriend
η σχέση μου – my partner (in a relationship)
η πολύ καλή μου φίλη – my very good (female) friend (still can be platonic, depending on context)

So in a neutral context, η φίλη μου is understood as my (female) friend.

Why is it μου after the noun (η φίλη μου) and not before, like in English?

In Greek, the usual pattern for possessives is:

article + noun + weak possessive pronoun

η φίλη μου = my friend
ο φίλος σου = your friend
το σπίτι του = his house

The possessive pronoun (μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους) normally follows the noun and is unstressed (you don’t say ΜΟΥ with strong stress).

If you want to emphasize my, you use a different structure:

η δική μου φίλη = my friend (as opposed to someone else’s)

Why is φίλη in the accusative case? I thought with usually takes an object in English, not a case change.

Greek prepositions almost always require a specific case, and με (with) takes the accusative:

με τη φίλη μου = with my friend
- τη φίλη is feminine, accusative, singular

So:

nominative (subject): η φίλη = the friend
accusative (object / after prepositions): τη(ν) φίλη = the friend

In your sentence, τη φίλη μου is the object of the preposition με, so it must be accusative.

What does για mean, and why is it used with το σχέδιο?

Για is a preposition that often means for or about, depending on context.

μιλάω για κάτι = I talk about something
δουλεύω για την εταιρεία = I work for the company

In Μιλάω με τη φίλη μου για το σχέδιο, για το σχέδιο means about the plan.

So the structure is:

μιλάω με κάποιον για κάτι
- talk with someone about something

Why is it το σχέδιο? What gender is σχέδιο?

Σχέδιο is a neuter noun in Greek. Its article in the singular is:

το σχέδιο = the plan / the design

Greek has three genders: masculine, feminine, neuter. You generally learn the gender together with the noun because it’s mostly arbitrary:

ο χάρτης (masc.) = the map
η πόλη (fem.) = the city
το σχέδιο (neut.) = the plan

After για, the noun goes into the accusative, but for neuter nouns, nominative and accusative look the same in the singular:

nominative: το σχέδιο
accusative: το σχέδιο

Can I change the word order? For example: Μιλάω για το σχέδιο με τη φίλη μου?

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible, especially with prepositional phrases. All of these are correct and natural, with slight differences in emphasis:

Μιλάω με τη φίλη μου για το σχέδιο.
Μιλάω για το σχέδιο με τη φίλη μου.

Usually, whatever comes last is a bit more emphasized. So:

ending with για το σχέδιο can emphasize what you’re talking about.
ending with με τη φίλη μου can emphasize with whom you’re talking.

Is there a difference between μιλάω, λέω, and συζητάω?

Yes, they all relate to speaking but are used differently:

μιλάω (με κάποιον) = I speak / talk (with someone)
- Μιλάω με τη φίλη μου. = I’m talking with my friend.
λέω (κάτι) = I say / tell (something)
- Της λέω την αλήθεια. = I tell her the truth.
συζητάω (με κάποιον για κάτι) = I discuss (with someone about something)
- Συζητάω με τη φίλη μου για το σχέδιο. = I discuss the plan with my friend.

In your sentence, μιλάω is a neutral, general word for talking. If you want to stress that it’s a more detailed discussion, you can use συζητάω.