Learn Hardcore Greek: Η μαμά μου λέει ότι το περπάτημα είναι η καλύτερη άσκηση για το σώμα. - My mom says that walking is the best exercise for the body.

In everyday speech, people almost always say η μαμά μου.
You might see η μητέρα μου in more formal writing, official contexts, or if you want a more serious tone.

Why is it λέει and not some other form of the verb?

λέει is the 3rd person singular present tense of λέω (to say):

λέω – I say
λες – you say
λέει – he/she/it says
λέμε – we say
λέτε – you (pl/formal) say
λένε – they say

Since the subject is η μαμά μου (my mom = she), we use λέει:
Η μαμά μου λέει = My mom says.

How do you pronounce λέει, and why is it written with two vowels?

λέει is pronounced approximately [LE-ee], two syllables, though in fast speech it can sound close to [lei].

Spelling:

λε-
- ει: ει here represents the /i/ sound (like ee in English see).
Modern Greek has several spellings for the /i/ sound (ι, η, υ, ει, οι, υι), and λέει is just the standard spelling of this verb form.

So don’t be confused by the extra vowel; just remember it sounds like LE-ee.

What is the function of ότι in this sentence, and can I replace it with πως?

ότι is a conjunction meaning that (introducing a reported statement):

Η μαμά μου λέει ότι… = My mom says that…

You can usually replace ότι with πως in this kind of sentence:

Η μαμά μου λέει ότι το περπάτημα είναι…
Η μαμά μου λέει πως το περπάτημα είναι…

In modern Greek, here they are practically interchangeable and both are correct.
There is another τι / ότι that means what, but that’s a different word and usage.

What exactly is το περπάτημα? Is it like the English -ing form "walking"?

το περπάτημα is a noun derived from the verb περπατάω (to walk). It’s a verbal noun, similar to English walking when used as a noun:

το περπάτημα = walking (as an activity)

Compare:

Μου αρέσει το περπάτημα. = I like walking.
Το περπάτημα είναι η καλύτερη άσκηση. = Walking is the best exercise.

So το περπάτημα is not a verb; it’s a neuter noun formed from the verb.

Why do we say το περπάτημα with the article το? Could we just say περπάτημα είναι η καλύτερη άσκηση?

In Greek, when you talk about an activity in a general, abstract way, you usually use the definite article:

το περπάτημα = walking (in general, as a concept)
το διάβασμα = reading
το κολύμπι = swimming

So:

Το περπάτημα είναι η καλύτερη άσκηση.
= Walking is the best exercise.

If you drop the article (Περπάτημα είναι η καλύτερη άσκηση), it sounds unnatural or incomplete. The article helps signal that we’re talking about the general activity.

Why is it είναι η καλύτερη άσκηση and not just είναι καλύτερη άσκηση?

η καλύτερη άσκηση means the best exercise, not just a better exercise.

καλή άσκηση = a good exercise
καλύτερη άσκηση = a better exercise (comparative)
η καλύτερη άσκηση = the best exercise (superlative)

Greek usually forms the superlative (the best, the most…) with:

the definite article (η, ο, το, etc.) +
the comparative form (καλύτερη, μεγαλύτερος, πιο καλός, etc.)

So είναι η καλύτερη άσκηση = it is the best exercise.

Why do some words use η and others το? For example η μαμά, το περπάτημα, η άσκηση, το σώμα.

The articles show grammatical gender, not "real-world" gender:

η μαμά – feminine (uses η)
η άσκηση – feminine (uses η)
το περπάτημα – neuter (uses το)
το σώμα – neuter (uses το)

You have to learn the gender with each noun:

Feminine singular: η (nominative/subject)
Masculine singular: ο
Neuter singular: το

In the sentence:

Subject: Η μαμά μου → feminine, so η
Predicate noun: η καλύτερη άσκηση → feminine, so η
Objects/phrases: το περπάτημα, το σώμα → neuter, so το

Why is για το σώμα using το? Could we say just για σώμα?

το σώμα means the body (in this context: the human body, in general).

In Greek, with abstract or general nouns, the definite article is very common, even when English does not use the:

Το νερό είναι απαραίτητο για το σώμα.
Water is necessary for the body.

Saying για σώμα without the article is unusual and sounds incorrect here.
So για το σώμα is the natural way to say for the body.

Why is μου placed after μαμά in η μαμά μου instead of before it like in English ("my mom")?

In Greek, possessive pronouns usually come after the noun:

η μαμά μου = my mom
το σπίτι σου = your house
το βιβλίο του = his book

The order is:
article + noun + possessive pronoun

So we say η μαμά μου, not μου η μαμά.
Putting it before (μου η μαμά) is not normal modern Greek.

What tense is λέει here? Is it talking about right now or in general?

λέει is present tense, but in Greek (as in English), the present can express:

something happening now:
Η μαμά μου λέει κάτι τώρα. = My mom is saying something now.
or a general, repeated habit or opinion:
Η μαμά μου λέει ότι το περπάτημα είναι η καλύτερη άσκηση για το σώμα.
= My mom says / always says / often says that walking is the best exercise for the body.

In this sentence, it expresses a general opinion she often has or expresses, not just a single moment.