Learn Hardcore Greek: Έχω άγχος, γι’ αυτό χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι το βράδυ. - I have stress, so I relax in the living room in the evening.

έχω άγχος literally = I have anxiety / I am stressed
είμαι άγχος is ungrammatical; άγχος is a thing (a neuter noun), not an adjective.

So the natural Greek way is to treat it as a noun you possess, not a state you are.

What is the difference between έχω άγχος and είμαι αγχωμένος?

Both can describe being stressed, but they feel slightly different:

έχω άγχος = I have anxiety / I am stressed (right now / in general)
- Very common, neutral, used for both temporary and more general stress.
είμαι αγχωμένος (for a man) / είμαι αγχωμένη (for a woman)
= I am anxious / I am stressed (as a state)
- Focuses more on your current emotional state or personality at the moment.

In many contexts they are interchangeable.
In this sentence, έχω άγχος sounds very natural and common.

What exactly is γι’ αυτό and why is there an apostrophe?

γι’ αυτό is a contraction of για αυτό.

για = for
αυτό = this / that

When για comes before a word starting with α, in speech the vowel is often dropped and the two words merge. In writing, we show this with an apostrophe:

για αυτό → γι’ αυτό

Meaning here: “so / therefore / that’s why”.

Pronunciation: γι’ αυτό is pronounced as one unit: /ʝaftó/ (like “yaftó”).

Is there a difference in meaning between γι’ αυτό and για αυτό?

Yes, there can be a difference:

γι’ αυτό (as in this sentence) usually functions as a connector:
- γι’ αυτό = therefore / so / that’s why
για αυτό (uncontracted, kept separate) is more literally:
- for this / because of this (thing)
  Example:
  Σ’ ευχαριστώ για αυτό. = Thank you for this.

In practice, speakers often pronounce both the same, but in writing:

γι’ αυτό = connector “so, therefore, that’s why”
για αυτό = “for this” as an object.

Why is there a comma before γι’ αυτό?

The comma separates:

the reason: Έχω άγχος (I’m stressed)
from the result/consequence: γι’ αυτό χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι το βράδυ (so I relax in the living room in the evening)

In Greek, just like in English, a comma is often used before connectors meaning “so, therefore, that’s why”.

So the comma is natural and expected here.

What does στο σαλόνι literally mean, and how is it formed?

στο σαλόνι = in the living room / in the lounge.

It’s a contraction of:

σε = in, at, to (a very common preposition)
το = the (neuter singular article)
σαλόνι = living room

So: σε + το = στο

Literally: “in the living room”.
You almost always use σε + article for in/at + a specific place in Greek.

Why does Greek say το βράδυ for “in the evening” without any preposition like “in”?

Greek often uses the definite article + a time-of-day word to mean “(in) that part of the day regularly / on that occasion”:

το πρωί = in the morning
το μεσημέρι = at noon / in the midday
το απόγευμα = in the afternoon
το βράδυ = in the evening
τη νύχτα = at night

So το βράδυ here naturally means “in the evening”, without needing σε or another preposition.

Can the word order change? For example, can we say Χαλαρώνω το βράδυ στο σαλόνι, γιατί έχω άγχος?

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible.

Your version:

Χαλαρώνω το βράδυ στο σαλόνι, γιατί έχω άγχος.

is correct and natural. Differences in feel:

Original: Έχω άγχος, γι’ αυτό χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι το βράδυ.
- Emphasis on the reason first (I’m stressed), then the consequence.
Alternative: Χαλαρώνω το βράδυ στο σαλόνι, γιατί έχω άγχος.
- Starts with what you do, then gives the reason with γιατί (because).

Both are good; they just present the information in a different order and with different logical connectors (γι’ αυτό = so, γιατί = because).

What tense is χαλαρώνω, and what nuance does it have compared to other forms of the verb?

χαλαρώνω is present tense, imperfective aspect.

Here it indicates a habitual action: I (usually) relax in the living room in the evening.

Very roughly:

χαλαρώνω = I relax / I am relaxing / I (tend to) relax
χαλάρωσα = I relaxed (completed action, past)
θα χαλαρώσω = I will relax (single/complete future event)
θα χαλαρώνω = I will be relaxing / I will keep relaxing (ongoing or habitual future)

In this sentence, χαλαρώνω nicely expresses a repeated, routine behavior.

Is χαλαρώνω reflexive, like “I relax myself,” or just a normal verb?

χαλαρώνω is a normal (non‑reflexive) verb in Greek.

χαλαρώνω = I relax / I unwind
You don’t need a reflexive pronoun like in some other languages.

If you want to emphasize that you relax yourself, you can still just say:

Χαλαρώνω. = I relax / I’m relaxing.

Greek has some reflexive‑looking forms with -ομαι, but χαλαρώνω here is simply active.

How do you pronounce άγχος and why does it look so strange?

άγχος is pronounced approximately /áŋxos/:

α = a as in “father”
γ before χ here creates a sound like “ng” in “sing”
χ is like the ch in German “Bach” or Spanish “j” in “José”
ος = os

So put together: something like “Áng‑hos”, but with a harsher ch‑like sound in the middle.

Spelling pattern:

The cluster γχ is common and usually pronounced like ngh.

Why does σαλόνι take το? What gender is it?

σαλόνι is neuter.

Neuter nouns often end in -ι in the singular:
το παιδί, το σπίτι, το σαλόνι.

So:

το σαλόνι = the living room (neuter singular nominative/accusative)

In your sentence, στο σαλόνι is σε + το σαλόνι = in the living room.

Could we say έχω στρες instead of έχω άγχος? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can say έχω στρες.

άγχος = native Greek word, very common, neutral
στρες = loan from English “stress”; widely used, especially in informal or modern contexts

Nuance:

έχω άγχος may sound a bit more general or emotional.
έχω στρες sometimes feels a bit more like “I’m under (external) stress,” but in everyday speech they overlap a lot.

Both are understood as “I am stressed.”