Breakdown of Η φίλη μου είναι χαρούμενη σήμερα, αλλά ήταν λυπημένη την Κυριακή.
είμαι
to be
σήμερα
today
η φίλη
the female friend
μου
my
Questions & Answers about Η φίλη μου είναι χαρούμενη σήμερα, αλλά ήταν λυπημένη την Κυριακή.
Why do we say Η φίλη μου with the article Η, when in English we just say my friend without the?
In Greek, a noun that has a possessive like μου (my) usually still takes the definite article:
- η φίλη μου = my (female) friend
- ο φίλος μου = my (male) friend
- το σπίτι μου = my house
So the pattern is article + noun + possessive.
It sounds wrong or very incomplete to drop the article and say just φίλη μου in this kind of sentence.
Why is it φίλη here and not φίλος?
Greek nouns have grammatical gender.
- φίλη is the feminine form meaning (female) friend.
- φίλος is the masculine form meaning (male) friend.
Because the sentence is talking about a female friend, it uses the feminine:
Η φίλη μου είναι χαρούμενη…
Why is μου after the noun (φίλη μου) and not before it, like in English my friend?