Learn Hardcore Greek: Στο εστιατόριο βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι που μιλάει ήρεμα και χαμογελάει. - At the restaurant I see a couple who are talking calmly and smiling.

You would not normally say σε το εστιατόριο in everyday speech; the contracted στο is the standard form. Using εστιατόριο without any article would sound incomplete here.

Why is it ένα ζευγάρι and not ένας ζευγάρι or μια ζευγάρι?

Because ζευγάρι is a neuter noun in Greek.

Indefinite article forms:

ένας (masculine)
μία / μια (feminine)
ένα (neuter)

Since ζευγάρι is neuter, you must use the neuter article:

✅ ένα ζευγάρι (a couple / a pair)
❌ ένας ζευγάρι
❌ μια ζευγάρι

So the phrase literally is I see a (neuter) couple.

If ζευγάρι refers to two people, why do the verbs μιλάει and χαμογελάει appear in the singular?

In Greek, ζευγάρι is grammatically singular, even though it refers to two people. The verbs normally agree with the grammatical number:

Το ζευγάρι μιλάει. = The couple is talking.
Το ζευγάρι χαμογελάει. = The couple is smiling.

So:

…βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι που μιλάει ήρεμα και χαμογελάει.
μιλάει / χαμογελάει are 3rd person singular, matching ζευγάρι.

In everyday speech, you may also hear plural verbs:

Το ζευγάρι μιλάνε / χαμογελάνε.

This is common and understood, but in more careful / standard grammar, the singular (μιλάει, χαμογελάει) is preferred because the subject is singular.

Could the sentence also be …ένα ζευγάρι που μιλάνε και χαμογελάνε? Is that wrong?

You will hear:

…ένα ζευγάρι που μιλάνε και χαμογελάνε.

This matches the fact that the couple is two people, so speakers sometimes “attract” the verb into the plural.

Grammar-wise:

Standard / more formal: singular with ζευγάρι
- Το ζευγάρι μιλάει και χαμογελάει.
Colloquial / very common in speech: plural
- Το ζευγάρι μιλάνε και χαμογελάνε.

So it is not “wrong” in real usage, but if you want to be on the safe side for exams or formal writing, use the singular verbs with ζευγάρι.

What is the role of που in …ζευγάρι που μιλάει…? Is it like who or that in English?

Yes. Here που is a relative pronoun, similar to English who / that / which introducing a relative clause.

ένα ζευγάρι = a couple
που μιλάει ήρεμα και χαμογελάει = that is talking calmly and smiling

So:

ένα ζευγάρι που μιλάει… = a couple who/that is talking…

In modern Greek, που is the most common way to form relative clauses in everyday language. More formal alternatives like ο οποίος, η οποία, το οποίο exist, but που is by far the default.

Why is it μιλάει and not μιλά? Are these different tenses?

Μιλάει and μιλά are two forms of the same verb in the same tense (present tense). They are both 3rd person singular of μιλάω / μιλώ (to speak, to talk).

μιλάει – very common in spoken Greek and also used in writing
μιλά – slightly shorter, a bit more literary or neutral writing style

Same pattern with χαμογελάει / χαμογελά from χαμογελάω / χαμογελώ.

So:

Το ζευγάρι μιλάει.
Το ζευγάρι μιλά.

Both mean The couple is talking; there is no tense difference.

What does ήρεμα mean exactly? Does it mean quietly or calmly?

Ήρεμα is an adverb meaning calmly, in a calm way, gently.

It primarily suggests:

emotional calmness
a relaxed, peaceful manner
possibly a soft, gentle tone

Compare:

μιλάει ήρεμα = speaks calmly, gently
μιλάει ήσυχα = speaks quietly, not loudly (focus on volume)

In your sentence, μιλάει ήρεμα suggests the couple is talking in a calm, peaceful manner, not arguing or speaking aggressively.

Does ήρεμα modify both verbs (μιλάει and χαμογελάει) or only μιλάει?

Grammatically, ήρεμα is placed right after μιλάει, so it most directly modifies μιλάει:

…που μιλάει ήρεμα και χαμογελάει.
→ who is talking calmly and (also) smiling.

However, in terms of meaning, it describes the overall mood, so a listener will probably understand that their smiles are calm and gentle too.

If you wanted to make it clearly apply to both verbs, you could say:

…που μιλάει και χαμογελάει ήρεμα.
(talking and smiling calmly)

But as written, it is perfectly natural Greek and understood as a calm, pleasant scene.

Why do we use the present tense βλέπω and μιλάει / χαμογελάει? Is it like English present continuous (I am seeing / they are talking)?

Modern Greek does not have a separate present continuous form like English. The simple present covers both:

βλέπω = I see / I am seeing
μιλάει = he/she/it talks / is talking
χαμογελάει = he/she/it smiles / is smiling

In context:

Στο εστιατόριο βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι που μιλάει ήρεμα και χαμογελάει.
→ At the restaurant I see a couple who are talking calmly and smiling.

So the Greek simple present + context corresponds to English present continuous here.

Can I omit ένα and say …βλέπω ζευγάρι που…? Does that sound natural?

You can say βλέπω ζευγάρι που…, and it is understandable, but:

βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι = I see a couple (one unspecified couple)
βλέπω ζευγάρι = I see (a) couple / I see couple(s) – more bare, less natural here

In this specific sentence, βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι… is the most natural and idiomatic choice.
Omitting ένα is more common in other contexts (e.g. headlines, short notes, or when the noun is more generic).

So you should keep ένα here.

Could I change the word order to Βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι στο εστιατόριο που μιλάει…? Does that change the meaning?

Yes, you can say:

Βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι στο εστιατόριο που μιλάει ήρεμα και χαμογελάει.

Both:

Στο εστιατόριο βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι…
Βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι στο εστιατόριο…

are correct.

The difference is mainly in emphasis / information structure:

Στο εστιατόριο βλέπω…
→ You first set the place: At the restaurant, I see…
Βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι στο εστιατόριο…
→ You start with what you see: I see a couple at the restaurant…

The meaning is effectively the same: you are at (or in) the restaurant, and you see a couple there.

Does βλέπω mean I look at or I see here? What is the difference between βλέπω and κοιτάζω?

In this sentence, βλέπω is best translated as I see.

βλέπω = to see (general perception with the eyes, sometimes close to “notice”)
κοιτάζω = to look at, to watch (more active, intentional)

Compare:

Βλέπω ένα ζευγάρι. = I see a couple. (my eyes notice them)
Κοιτάζω ένα ζευγάρι. = I am looking at a couple. (I actively turn my attention to them)

Your sentence focuses on what appears in your field of vision in the restaurant, so βλέπω is exactly right.

What is the nuance between στο εστιατόριο = in the restaurant and at the restaurant? Which one is closer?

Στο εστιατόριο can correspond to in the restaurant or at the restaurant, depending on context.

When you are inside the building, both in and at are possible in English:
- I’m in the restaurant. (inside)
- I’m at the restaurant. (at that location, usually also inside)

Greek does not make a strong distinction here.
In your sentence, a natural translation is:

At the restaurant, I see a couple who are talking calmly and smiling.

But In the restaurant… would also be acceptable. The Greek στο is flexible and does not force one or the other.