Learn Hardcore Greek: Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα.

Greek is a “pro-drop” language: subject pronouns (like εγώ = I) are normally omitted when the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

παίρνω = I take / I am calling (1st person singular)

So:

Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα.
already means I call my mom every day.

If you say Εγώ παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα, it’s technically correct, but it sounds like you’re emphasizing I (as opposed to someone else):

Εγώ παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα, όχι ο αδερφός μου.
I call my mom every day, not my brother.

What is the role of τη in τη μαμά μου?

τη is the definite article in the accusative singular feminine form. It means the, and it marks τη μαμά as the direct object of the verb.

Breakdown:

η μαμά = the mom (subject form, nominative)
τη μαμά = the mom (object form, accusative)

In this sentence, τη μαμά μου is what you are calling, so it must be in the accusative:

Παίρνω (ποιον;) τη μαμά μου.
I call (whom?) my mom.

μου is a possessive pronoun meaning my, and it follows the noun:

η μαμά μου = my mom
τη μαμά μου = my mom (as object)

Is τη in τη μαμά μου the same as in τηλέφωνο?

No, they are completely different words:

τη (unstressed, separate word) = the (feminine, accusative, singular article)
τηλέφωνο (stressed on -λέ-) = telephone / phone

So:

τη μαμά = the mom (object)
τηλέφωνο = telephone

In Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου, τηλέφωνο has no article in front of it; it’s just a bare noun used idiomatically as part of the expression παίρνω τηλέφωνο.

Why doesn’t τηλέφωνο have an article here (like το τηλέφωνο)?

When τηλέφωνο is used as part of the expression παίρνω τηλέφωνο κάποιον, it behaves almost like an adverbial phrase: “by phone / a phone call”. In that use, it’s normally without an article:

Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου.
I call my mom (on the phone).

If you say:

Παίρνω το τηλέφωνο.

this means I pick up / take the phone (the device), not I call. So:

παίρνω τηλέφωνο κάποιον = I call someone
παίρνω το τηλέφωνο = I pick up / take the phone (object)

Why is it τη μαμά μου and not μου τη μαμά?

In Greek, possessive pronouns like μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους usually come after the noun they modify:

η μαμά μου = my mom
το σπίτι μου = my house
το βιβλίο μου = my book

So the normal order is:

τη μαμά μου = my mom (object)

Putting μου before τη μαμά (μου τη μαμά) would be ungrammatical in this context.
There is a different structure where μου can come before a noun (e.g. in some colloquial vocatives: ρε μάνα μου etc.), but that’s not the case here.

What tense is παίρνω, and does it mean I call or I am calling?

παίρνω is present tense, active voice, 1st person singular of παίρνω.

In Greek, the present tense covers both:

English I call (habitual/present simple)
English I am calling (right now/present continuous)

So Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα can only be understood as habitual because of κάθε μέρα (every day):

I call my mom every day.

If you add a time adverb like τώρα (now):

Τώρα παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου.
= I’m calling my mom now.

Could I also say Τηλεφωνώ στη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα? What’s the difference?

Yes, that’s perfectly correct:

Τηλεφωνώ στη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα.
= I telephone my mom every day. / I call my mom every day.

Differences:

παίρνω τηλέφωνο is very common in everyday speech, slightly more colloquial.
τηλεφωνώ is a bit more formal / standard, but still very common.

Also note the grammar:

παίρνω τηλέφωνο κάποιον (direct object in accusative)
τηλεφωνώ σε κάποιον → τηλεφωνώ στη μαμά μου
(σε + τη μαμά → στη μαμά = to my mom)

Both sentences mean essentially the same thing in this context.

Why is it μαμά and not μητέρα?

μαμά and μητέρα both mean mother, but they differ in register and tone:

μαμά = mom / mummy
– informal, affectionate, the normal word you use for your own mother.
μητέρα = mother
– more formal, used in careful speech, writing, or when being more distant / polite.

So:

Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα.
= very natural, warm, everyday Greek.

A more formal version could be:

Τηλεφωνώ στη μητέρα μου κάθε μέρα.

What case are τη μαμά and μου in, and why?

τη μαμά is in the accusative case (direct object of the verb).
μου is in the genitive case (possessive: of me / my).

Roles in the sentence:

Παίρνω = I take / I call (verb)
(εγώ) = I (subject, not expressed)
τη μαμά = my mom (direct object → accusative)
μου = my (possessor → genitive)

So grammatically:

Παίρνω (εγώ) τη μαμά (acc.) μου (gen.) κάθε μέρα.

Why is there no article with κάθε μέρα?

κάθε means every and it normally takes a bare noun without an article:

κάθε μέρα = every day
κάθε μήνα = every month
κάθε εβδομάδα = every week

Adding an article (η κάθε μέρα) changes the meaning and tone; it becomes more emphatic or stylistic (something like each and every day), and is not how you’d say the neutral every day here.

So the normal expression:

κάθε μέρα = every day

Can I change the word order, for example put κάθε μέρα at the beginning?

Yes. Greek word order is flexible, and the core meaning stays the same. Some natural alternatives:

Κάθε μέρα παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου.
(Emphasis a bit more on every day.)
Τη μαμά μου την παίρνω τηλέφωνο κάθε μέρα.
(More emphasis on my mom as the one you call every day.)
Κάθε μέρα τη μαμά μου την παίρνω τηλέφωνο.
(Strong focus on both every day and my mom.)

The original:

Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα.

is neutral and very natural. Changing the order usually just shifts emphasis, not grammar.

How do you pronounce each word in this sentence?

Approximate pronunciation (stressed syllables in bold):

Παίρνω → PER-no (like PEHR-no)
τηλέφωνο → ti-LE-fo-no (tee-LEH-fo-no)
τη → ti (tee)
μαμά → ma-MA (ma-MAH)
μου → mu (moo)
κάθε → KA-the (KAH-the; th as in this)
μέρα → ME-ra (MEH-ra)

Full sentence:

Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη μαμά μου κάθε μέρα.
→ PEHR-no tee-LEH-fo-no tee ma-MAH moo KAH-the MEH-ra.