Learn Hardcore Greek: Ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου απόψε για το ταξίδι. - I am packing my suitcase tonight for the trip.

Greek does not distinguish between “I prepare” and “I am preparing” in form; ετοιμάζω covers both. The context and time expression (απόψε) tell you it means “I’m (going to be) packing” tonight.

Why is the present tense ετοιμάζω used when English would usually say “I’m going to pack” or “I will pack”?

Greek often uses the present tense for near future plans or arrangements, especially when they are quite certain or already decided.

So:

Ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου απόψε
literally: “I prepare my suitcase tonight”
natural English: “I’m packing my suitcase tonight” / “I’ll pack my suitcase tonight.”

You could also say:

Θα ετοιμάσω τη βαλίτσα μου απόψε.
which is more directly future (“I will pack my suitcase tonight”), but Ετοιμάζω... απόψε is very natural and colloquial for a fixed plan.

Why is it τη βαλίτσα and not η βαλίτσα?

Βαλίτσα (suitcase) is a feminine noun.

Nominative (subject): η βαλίτσα – the suitcase
Accusative (direct object): τη(ν) βαλίτσα – the suitcase

In the sentence:

Ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου
The suitcase is the direct object of the verb “prepare/pack,” so it must be in the accusative case: τη βαλίτσα, not η βαλίτσα.

So the pattern is:

Η βαλίτσα είναι καινούργια. – The suitcase is new. (subject → nominative, η)
Ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα. – I’m packing the suitcase. (object → accusative, τη)

Sometimes I see τη and sometimes την. Why is it τη βαλίτσα here and not την βαλίτσα?

The feminine accusative singular article has two forms: την and τη.

The final ν (n) is usually dropped before certain consonants. Modern spelling practice is:

Keep ν (write την) before vowels and before the consonants κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, γκ, μπ, ντ, τσ, τζ.
Otherwise, you can drop it and write τη.

Βαλίτσα starts with β, so the common modern spelling is:

τη βαλίτσα

You may still see την βαλίτσα in older or more conservative writing, but τη βαλίτσα is standard today.

Why is the possessive μου after the noun (τη βαλίτσα μου) instead of before it like English “my suitcase”? And why is there a definite article?

In Greek, possessive pronouns (μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους) normally come after the noun, and the noun almost always keeps the definite article:

η βαλίτσα μου – my suitcase
το σπίτι μας – our house
ο φίλος σου – your friend

The structure is:

[definite article] + [noun] + [possessive pronoun]

So:

τη βαλίτσα μου = my suitcase (as a direct object; accusative)

You generally cannot say just βαλίτσα μου as the normal way to say “my suitcase”; it sounds incomplete in standard modern Greek, except in some special or very colloquial contexts.

What exactly does απόψε mean, and how is it different from σήμερα το βράδυ or το βράδυ?

Απόψε means “tonight / this evening (later today)” and is a single word.

Compare:

απόψε – tonight (the evening of today, fairly specific)
σήμερα το βράδυ – literally “today in the evening”; practically the same meaning as απόψε, just a bit longer
το βράδυ – “in the evening / at night” (more general; might be today or on some other day, depending on context)

In this sentence:

Ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου απόψε...
means specifically “I’m packing my suitcase tonight (this evening).”

What does για το ταξίδι literally mean, and why do we need both για and the article το?

Για το ταξίδι literally means “for the trip.”

για = for, for the purpose of
το = the (neuter singular article, accusative)
ταξίδι = trip / journey (neuter noun)

So:

για το ταξίδι = for the (specific) trip

The article το is used because we are talking about a specific trip, already known from context (for example, an upcoming holiday or business trip). Greek tends to use the definite article more than English, especially with concrete, specific things.

If you said:

για ταξίδι (without article)

it would sound more general or abstract, like “for travel / for going on a trip (in general)”, not a particular, known trip.

Could I say ετοιμάζομαι instead of ετοιμάζω? What is the difference?

Yes, but it changes the meaning slightly.

ετοιμάζω = I prepare (something), I get (something) ready
→ it takes a direct object: ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα (I pack the suitcase).
ετοιμάζομαι = I get ready (myself)
→ reflexive meaning, no direct object: Ετοιμάζομαι απόψε για το ταξίδι. (I’m getting ready tonight for the trip.)

So:

Ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου απόψε για το ταξίδι.
Focus: I’m preparing the suitcase.
Ετοιμάζομαι απόψε για το ταξίδι.
Focus: I’m getting myself ready (which might include packing, but also other preparations).

Can the word order change? For example, can I say Απόψε ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου για το ταξίδι?

Yes, Greek word order is relatively flexible, and both are correct:

Ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου απόψε για το ταξίδι.
Απόψε ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου για το ταξίδι.

The main difference is emphasis:

Starting with Απόψε emphasises “tonight”:
“Tonight, I’m packing my suitcase for the trip (as opposed to some other time).”
Keeping απόψε in the middle sounds more neutral and somewhat emphasizes the action (“I’m packing”) rather than the time.

Other natural variations:

Ετοιμάζω απόψε τη βαλίτσα μου για το ταξίδι.
Απόψε, για το ταξίδι, ετοιμάζω τη βαλίτσα μου. (more stylistic, with strong emphasis)

Could I replace τη βαλίτσα μου with a pronoun and say Την ετοιμάζω απόψε για το ταξίδι? How would that work?

Yes, you can use a clitic object pronoun:

Την ετοιμάζω απόψε για το ταξίδι.

Here:

Την = “it” (feminine, singular, accusative)
→ referring to some previously mentioned feminine noun, e.g. τη βαλίτσα.

This sentence would usually come after the suitcase has already been mentioned in the conversation:

A: Τι θα κάνεις με τη βαλίτσα; – What are you going to do about the suitcase?
B: Την ετοιμάζω απόψε για το ταξίδι. – I’m packing it tonight for the trip.

In Greek, these short pronouns typically come before the verb:

Την ετοιμάζω...
not Ετοιμάζω την... (unless την starts a new phrase or for special emphasis).