Learn Hardcore Greek: Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι.

In Greek, the simple present (κάνω) is very often used for near-future plans, especially when you mention a time expression like σήμερα το βράδυ, αύριο, την Κυριακή etc.

So Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι is like English “Tonight I’m having a party at home” (present continuous with a future meaning).

You could also say Σήμερα το βράδυ θα κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι, but κάνω without θα sounds more like a fixed plan, something already arranged, and is very natural in everyday speech.

What does Σήμερα το βράδυ literally mean, and is it the same as tonight?

Literally, Σήμερα το βράδυ is “today the evening”.

Functionally, it means “this evening / tonight”. In practice, Greek speakers use it just like “tonight” when they want to be clear that they mean the evening of today, not some other day.

So:

Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι. = I’m having a party tonight.

Could I just say Το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι without σήμερα?

Yes, you can.

Το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι. = This evening I’m having a party at home.

Without σήμερα, it still normally refers to this evening in context, especially if you’re talking about plans for today. Adding σήμερα simply makes it crystal clear that it’s today’s evening.

Why is there a το before βράδυ, but nothing before σήμερα?

Σήμερα is an adverb (“today”), so it doesn’t take an article.

Βράδυ is a noun (“evening”), and in this kind of time expression in Greek, you normally use the definite article in the accusative case:

το βράδυ (the evening)
το πρωί (the morning)
το μεσημέρι (noon / midday)

So σήμερα το βράδυ is literally “today the evening”, but together it functions as a time phrase meaning “this evening / tonight”.

What is the subject of κάνω here? Where is “I”?

The subject is implied in the verb ending.

Κάνω is 1st person singular present: I do / I make. Greek doesn’t need a subject pronoun here, because the verb ending already tells you it’s “I”.

If you wanted to emphasize the subject, you could say:

Εγώ σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι. (I’m the one having a party tonight at home.)

Why κάνω πάρτι and not something like έχω πάρτι?

Κάνω πάρτι is the standard, idiomatic way to say “I’m having / throwing a party” in Greek.

You can use έχω πάρτι in different contexts, but it usually means “there is a party (that concerns me)” rather than “I am hosting it”, for example:

Αύριο έχουμε πάρτι στο σχολείο. = Tomorrow we have a party at school. (the school is organizing one, or there is one scheduled)

If you want to say you’re organizing/hosting, κάνω πάρτι is the natural choice.

Should there be an ένα before πάρτι, like κάνω ένα πάρτι?

Both are possible:

Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι.
Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω ένα πάρτι στο σπίτι.

With ένα, you emphasize it more as “one party / a single party, an event”. Without ένα, it’s a bit more neutral and idiomatic, like “I’m having a party” in general. In everyday speech, both versions are common and correct.

What gender is πάρτι and why doesn’t it change form here?

Πάρτι is usually treated as a neuter indeclinable noun (a loanword that keeps the same form in all cases).

If you add an article, you typically say:

το πάρτι (the party)

In the sentence κάνω πάρτι, there is no article, but the word πάρτι itself doesn’t change. If you used it in another case, like the genitive, many speakers would still keep it as πάρτι (e.g. του πάρτι).

What does στο σπίτι mean exactly, and why not just σπίτι?

Στο σπίτι is σε + το σπίτι and literally means “in/at the house”.

In many situations, στο σπίτι is understood as “at home”, especially if it’s clear you’re talking about your own home:

Είμαι στο σπίτι. = I’m at home.

You can also say κάνω πάρτι σπίτι, dropping the article and the preposition, more like:

Θα μείνω σπίτι. = I’ll stay home.

Both are common, but στο σπίτι is a bit more explicit and neutral, and can also clearly mean “at the house (this particular place)”, not necessarily your home.

How would I say “at my house” instead of just “at home”?

You can add the possessive pronoun μου:

Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι μου.
= Tonight I’m having a party at my house.

Στο σπίτι on its own often already implies your house in context, but στο σπίτι μου removes any possible ambiguity and emphasizes that it’s your place, not someone else’s.

Can I change the word order, for example Σήμερα το βράδυ στο σπίτι κάνω πάρτι?

Yes. Greek word order is fairly flexible, and this sentence allows several natural variants, for example:

Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι.
Σήμερα το βράδυ στο σπίτι κάνω πάρτι.
Κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι σήμερα το βράδυ.

The basic meaning stays the same. Changing the order can slightly shift emphasis, but all of these would be understood as “Tonight I’m having a party at home.” The version you gave is perfectly acceptable.

What’s the difference between σήμερα το βράδυ and απόψε?

Both usually mean “tonight”, but:

Απόψε is a single word meaning “tonight / this evening”.
Σήμερα το βράδυ is a bit more explicit: literally “today, in the evening”.

In most everyday contexts, they are interchangeable:

Απόψε κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι.
Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι.

Both are natural and common.

Is there any difference between βράδυ and νύχτα in this kind of sentence?

Yes, there is a nuance:

Βράδυ = evening, usually from early evening until around bedtime.
Νύχτα = night, often feels later/“deeper” into the night.

So:

Σήμερα το βράδυ κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι.
= The party is in the evening.
Σήμερα τη νύχτα κάνω πάρτι στο σπίτι.
= Sounds like it’s at night, maybe late.

Both are grammatically correct, but το βράδυ is the more standard way to say “tonight” for a party.