Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο.

I arrive at the airport early when I travel by plane.

Breakdown of Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο.

• με: with
• σε: at
• νωρίς: early
• όταν: when
• φτάνω: to arrive
• ταξιδεύω: to travel
• το αεροδρόμιο: the airport
• το αεροπλάνο: the airplane

Questions & Answers about Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο.

Why is there no subject pronoun like εγώ (“I”) in the sentence?

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

• Φτάνω means “I arrive / I get there” (1st person singular).
• Because the verb form clearly indicates “I”, saying εγώ φτάνω would often sound redundant in a neutral sentence like this.

You would normally add εγώ only:

• for emphasis: Εγώ φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς… = I (as opposed to someone else) arrive early…
• or in contrast: Εγώ φτάνω νωρίς, αλλά εσύ φτάνεις αργά.

What does στο mean exactly, and why is it written as one word?

Στο is a contraction of two separate words:

• σε = “in / at / to”
• το = “the” (neuter singular)

So:

• σε + το αεροδρόμιο → στο αεροδρόμιο

This is the normal, standard form: speakers almost always say and write στο αεροδρόμιο, not σε το αεροδρόμιο.

Similarly:

• σε + τον → στον (before masculine nouns: στον φίλο μου)
• σε + την → στη(ν) (before feminine nouns: στη δουλειά)

Why is it στο αεροδρόμιο and not στον αεροδρόμιο?

Because αεροδρόμιο is a neuter noun.

Greek definite articles in the singular are:

• Masculine: ο / τον
• Feminine: η / την
• Neuter: το

Αεροδρόμιο takes το:

• το αεροδρόμιο (the airport)

When you combine σε + το, you get στο, so:

• στο αεροδρόμιο = “at the airport”

You would only see στον with masculine nouns:

• στον σταθμό (at the station)
• στον γιατρό (at the doctor)

Why is the present tense (φτάνω, ταξιδεύω) used when the meaning is general or habitual?

In Greek, the simple present tense is used both for:

1. Actions happening right now:
   
   • Τώρα φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο. = I’m arriving at the airport now.
2. Habits and general truths (like English “I usually…” or “I tend to…”):
   
   • Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο.
     = I arrive / I get to the airport early when I travel by plane.
     (i.e. I usually do this.)

Greek does not need extra words like “usually” or “tend to” to express a habit; the present tense plus όταν (when) and the context are enough to show that this is a regular behavior.

Could the word order be Όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο, φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς? Is that more natural?

Yes, that word order is equally natural and very common:

• Όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο, φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς.

Greek word order is fairly flexible. When you start the sentence with όταν (“when”) and its clause, you normally add a comma:

• Όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο, φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς.
• Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο.

Both mean the same. Starting with Όταν ταξιδεύω… slightly emphasizes the condition (“whenever I travel by plane…”), but the difference is subtle.

Why is νωρίς used here? Is it an adjective or an adverb?

Νωρίς is an adverb, meaning “early” (in terms of time).

Adverbs in Greek (like in English) modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Here, νωρίς modifies the verb φτάνω:

• Φτάνω νωρίς = I arrive early.

There is also an adjective νωρίτερος / πιο νωρίς (comparative earlier), but in this sentence we just need the plain adverb νωρίς.

Why is it με αεροπλάνο and not με το αεροπλάνο?

Both are possible, but they have slightly different uses:

• με αεροπλάνο = by plane, by air (as a means of transport)
  Here the noun is almost like a bare label for the type of transport; you often drop the article.

• με το αεροπλάνο = with the plane / by the plane (a specific plane)
  For example: Ταξίδεψα με το αεροπλάνο των 7.
  = I traveled with the 7 o’clock plane / flight.

In your sentence, we’re talking generally about the means of transport, not a particular plane, so Greek normally uses με αεροπλάνο without the article.

What is the difference between ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο and using the verb πετάω?

Both can be used when you talk about flying, but they have different focuses:

• Ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο = I travel by plane
  Focus: the trip/journey and the means of transport.
  This sounds neutral and is always correct for “I travel by plane”.

• Πετάω (με αεροπλάνο) = I fly (by plane)

  • Literally “I fly” (like a bird or a plane).
  • In everyday speech: Πετάω για Λονδίνο αύριο. = I’m flying to London tomorrow.
    It’s a bit more informal, and can also refer to a plane flying, not just a passenger traveling.

Your sentence emphasizes the travel habit, so ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο is the straightforward choice.

Why is σε (in στο αεροδρόμιο) used with the accusative for both “to” and “at”?

In modern Greek, the preposition σε with the accusative is used for both:

• Location (where something is): at / in / on
• Direction (where something is going): to / into / onto

Examples:

• Είμαι στο αεροδρόμιο. = I am at the airport. (location)
• Πηγαίνω στο αεροδρόμιο. = I am going to the airport. (direction)

So in Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο, we keep the same σε + accusative pattern:

• It can be understood as “I arrive at the airport” (end location of movement).

Greek doesn’t change the case to distinguish “to” vs “at” the way some other languages might; context and the verb provide that information.

Could I use αν instead of όταν here? What’s the difference?

Όταν and αν are not interchangeable:

• Όταν = when / whenever (for time)
• Αν = if (for condition)

Your sentence describes what you regularly do whenever you travel by plane, so όταν is correct:

• Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο. = I arrive early when I travel by plane.

If you said:

• Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς αν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο.

it would mean something like:

• “I arrive at the airport early if I happen to be traveling by plane.”
  This sounds more like a conditional rule and less like a simple habit, and in most natural contexts όταν is what you want.

What is the difference between φτάνω and έρχομαι? Could I say Έρχομαι στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς…?

Both verbs involve movement, but they’re not used in exactly the same way:

• Φτάνω = to arrive / to reach a destination
  Focus on the arrival point and the completion of the trip:

  • Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο. = I arrive at the airport.

• Έρχομαι = to come (motion towards the speaker’s or listener’s position)
  Focus on movement toward someone:

  • Έρχομαι στο αεροδρόμιο τώρα. = I’m coming to the airport now.

Your sentence refers to the point of arrival at the airport as a habit, so φτάνω is the most natural verb.
Έρχομαι στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο is grammatically correct, but it sounds more like “I come to the airport early…” rather than “I arrive early,” and φτάνω is the usual choice for this idea.

How is the whole sentence pronounced, and where is the stress in each word?

The sentence:

Φτάνω στο αεροδρόμιο νωρίς όταν ταξιδεύω με αεροπλάνο.

Stressed syllables are marked with capital letters (approximate pronunciation):

• ΦΤΑ-no (FTA-no)
• sto
• a-e-ro-DRO-mi-o (a-eh-ro-DHRO-mee-o)
• no-RIS (no-REES)
• o-TAN (o-TAN)
• ta-xi-DHE-vo (ta-xi-DHE-vo; dh like “th” in “this”)
• me
• a-e-ro-PLA-no (a-eh-ro-PLA-no)

Rhythmically:

FTA-no sto a-eh-ro-DHRO-mee-o no-REES | o-TAN ta-xi-DHE-vo me a-eh-ro-PLA-no.

Word stress is very important in Greek; changing the stress can change the meaning or make a word hard to recognize.