Τώρα διαβάζω ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη.

Now I am reading Greek in the library.

Breakdown of Τώρα διαβάζω ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη.

• τώρα: now
• ελληνικά: in Greek
• σε: in
• η βιβλιοθήκη: the library
• διαβάζω: to study

Questions & Answers about Τώρα διαβάζω ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη.

Why is there no word for I in Τώρα διαβάζω ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη?

Greek usually leaves out subject pronouns like I, you, we because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• The ending -ω in διαβάζω tells you it is 1st person singular → I.
• So διαβάζω by itself means I read / I am reading.
• You only add εγώ (I) for emphasis, e.g. Εγώ τώρα διαβάζω… = I (as opposed to someone else) am reading now…

What tense is διαβάζω, and does it mean I read or I am reading?

Διαβάζω is the present tense in Greek.

In modern Greek, the present tense typically covers both:

• English simple present → I read Greek
• English present continuous → I am reading Greek

Context and time words like τώρα (now) make the meaning clear. With τώρα, the sentence is naturally understood as I am reading Greek now in the library.

Does διαβάζω mean to read or to study?

Both, depending on context.

• Basic meaning: to read (a book, a text, etc.)
• Very common extended meaning: to study (to prepare, to do academic work)

So διαβάζω ελληνικά can be understood as:

• I read Greek (texts), or
• I study Greek (the language)

In everyday speech about school or languages, διαβάζω is often used where English would say study.

Why is ελληνικά (Greek) in the plural form?

Ελληνικά is the neuter plural form of the adjective ελληνικός, -ή, -ό (Greek).

Greek commonly uses the neuter plural of adjectives as a noun to mean:

• a language:
  
  • ελληνικά = Greek (language)
  • αγγλικά = English
  • γαλλικά = French
• or a subject/field in school:
  
  • μαθηματικά = mathematics
  • οικονομικά = economics

So διαβάζω ελληνικά literally is I read/study Greek (things) → I study Greek.

Why is there no article (like τα) before ελληνικά here?

With languages after verbs like μιλάω (speak), ξέρω (know), διαβάζω (read/study), Greek often omits the article:

• Μιλάω ελληνικά = I speak Greek
• Ξέρω γαλλικά = I know French
• Διαβάζω ελληνικά = I read/study Greek

The definite article can appear in other contexts, for example:

• Τα ελληνικά μου είναι καλά. = My Greek is good.
• Μου αρέσουν τα ελληνικά. = I like Greek (the language).

So omitting τα in your sentence is normal and correct.

What does στη in στη βιβλιοθήκη mean exactly?

Στη is a contracted form of:

• σε (preposition: in, at, to)
• τη(ν) (feminine singular definite article: the, in accusative case)

So:

• σε + τη = στη
• στη βιβλιοθήκη = in the library / at the library

Greek often contracts σε + article:

• σε + το = στο (neuter/masculine)
• σε + τη(ν) = στη(ν) (feminine)
• σε + τους = στους (masculine plural), etc.

Why is it στη βιβλιοθήκη and not στο βιβλιοθήκη?

Because βιβλιοθήκη is a feminine noun.

• βιβλιοθήκη (library) is feminine: η βιβλιοθήκη
• Feminine article in accusative singular: τη(ν)
• With σε it becomes στη (βιβλιοθήκη)

Στο is used with neuter or masculine nouns:

• στο σχολείο (neuter: school)
• στο κέντρο (neuter: center)
• στο δρόμο (masculine: road)

So στη βιβλιοθήκη is the correct form.

What case is βιβλιοθήκη in, and why does it look like the dictionary form?

Βιβλιοθήκη is in the accusative singular case, because it is the object of the preposition σε (in/at/to).

For feminine nouns like βιβλιοθήκη, the nominative and accusative singular forms are often identical:

• Nominative: η βιβλιοθήκη (subject)
• Accusative: τη βιβλιοθήκη (object)

So although its form is the same, the function in the sentence (after σε) tells you it is accusative.

Can I change the word order, or must it be Τώρα διαβάζω ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη?

You can change the word order; Greek is fairly flexible. All of these are possible, with small changes in emphasis:

• Τώρα διαβάζω ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη.
  Neutral: focuses on what you are doing now.
• Διαβάζω τώρα ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη.
  Slight focus on the action now.
• Διαβάζω ελληνικά τώρα στη βιβλιοθήκη.
  Slight focus on the place + time.
• Τώρα στη βιβλιοθήκη διαβάζω ελληνικά.
  Emphasizes now, in the library as the setting.

All still mean basically Now I am reading/studying Greek in the library.

Does τώρα have to be at the beginning of the sentence?

No. Τώρα (now) can appear in several positions:

• Τώρα διαβάζω ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη.
• Διαβάζω τώρα ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη.
• Διαβάζω ελληνικά στη βιβλιοθήκη τώρα.

The meaning stays the same: the action is happening now. Changing the position usually only shifts a slight emphasis, not the basic meaning.

How do you pronounce διαβάζω?

Pronunciation (in simplified form): thya-VA-zo

Details:

• δ = a soft th sound as in this, not like English d.
• δια together is δya → thya.
• αυ before a voiced consonant (β) is pronounced like av.
• Stress is on the second syllable: διαˈβάζω → thya-VA-zo.

IPA (for reference): [ðjaˈvazo].

How do you pronounce ελληνικά?

Pronunciation (simplified): e-li-ni-KA

Details:

• ε = e as in met.
• λλ = a single l sound (you just see double λ, you don’t double the sound much).
• η (in λη and νι) sounds like ee.
• Stress is on the last syllable: ε-λλη-νι-κά → e-li-ni-KA.

IPA (for reference): [eliniˈka].

Is διαβάζω specifically to read a book, or can it mean just to do homework / to study?

It can mean both, and everyday Greek uses it very broadly for study:

• Διαβάζω ένα βιβλίο. = I am reading a book.
• Διαβάζω για το τεστ. = I am studying for the test.
• Διαβάζω ελληνικά. = I study Greek.

So your sentence is naturally understood as Now I am studying/reading Greek in the library.

Is the sentence talking about a specific library (the library) or any library?

Στη βιβλιοθήκη literally means in the library (with the definite article).

In practice, it can refer to:

• a known/specific library (for example, the one at your university), or
• the library you usually go to, even if not specified in English.

Greek tends to use the definite article more than English does. Context decides whether English would translate it as the library or just at the library without stressing which one.