Learn Hardcore Greek: Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά, αλλά η φίλη μου μένει σε μικρό χωριό. - I live in a quiet neighborhood, but my friend lives in a small village.

μένω = to stay, to live, to reside (especially for your address or place where you live).
ζω = to live (in general, to be alive, to live one’s life).

So:

Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά. = I live / reside in a quiet neighborhood. (My home is there.)
Ζω μια ήσυχη ζωή. = I live a quiet life. (General way of life.)

You can say Ζω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά, but for talking about where you live, μένω is more common and natural.

Why do we use σε here? Could we say something else like στο?

σε is the basic preposition meaning “in / at / on / to”.

After σε, the noun phrase goes in the accusative case:

Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά.
η γειτονιά (nominative) → γειτονιά (accusative)

When σε comes before a definite article, it usually contracts:

σε + το → στο
σε + τη(ν) → στη(ν)
σε + τις → στις
σε + τους → στους

But in our sentence there is no article after σε, so we just have σε ήσυχη γειτονιά, not στο something.

Why is there no article (no μια or τη) in σε ήσυχη γειτονιά and σε μικρό χωριό?

Greek can omit the article when you speak in a more general or indefinite way, especially with place expressions:

Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά.
= I live in a quiet neighborhood (not specifying which one).
Η φίλη μου μένει σε μικρό χωριό.
= My friend lives in a small village (again, not a specific one that’s already known).

You could also say:

σε μια ήσυχη γειτονιά, σε ένα μικρό χωριό

That would still be correct; it just sounds a bit more explicitly “in one quiet neighborhood / in one small village”. Omitting μια / ένα is very common in such “type of place” statements.

How do ήσυχη and γειτονιά agree grammatically?

Both ήσυχη and γειτονιά are:

feminine
singular
accusative

Details:

γειτονιά = feminine noun (η γειτονιά)
- nominative singular: η γειτονιά
- accusative singular: τη(ν) γειτονιά (form is the same as nominative except for the article)
ήσυχη = feminine singular form of the adjective ήσυχος (quiet)
- masculine: ήσυχος (ένας ήσυχος δρόμος)
- feminine: ήσυχη (μια ήσυχη γειτονιά)
- neuter: ήσυχο (ένα ήσυχο μέρος)

Because adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun, we get:

σε ήσυχη γειτονιά (both fem. sing. accusative)

Why do we have η φίλη μου and not just φίλη μου?

Modern Greek very often uses the definite article together with a possessive pronoun (μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους):

η φίλη μου = my friend (literally “the friend my”)

Saying φίλη μου without the article is also possible, but:

η φίλη μου is the normal, neutral way to say “my friend.”
φίλη μου without η can sound a bit more vocative or emotional / stylistic, e.g. calling out to someone: Φίλη μου!

In everyday speech, with possessives, expect to see:

η μητέρα μου (my mother)
ο πατέρας μου (my father)
το σπίτι μου (my house)
η φίλη μου (my friend – female)

Why is the possessive μου after the noun, not before like in English?

In Greek, the possessive pronoun follows the noun:

η φίλη μου = my friend
το βιβλίο σου = your book
το αυτοκίνητό του = his car

So the pattern is usually:

article + noun + possessive

You cannot put μου before the noun the way you do in English.
Saying μου φίλη is only possible in very special, poetic, or vocative uses, not in normal neutral speech.

Do I need to say the subject pronoun εγώ (“I”) in Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά?

No. Greek usually drops subject pronouns, because the verb ending already shows the person:

μένω = I live
μένεις = you live
μένει = he/she/it lives

So:

Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά. is natural and complete.
Εγώ μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά. is also correct, but adds emphasis, like “I live in a quiet neighborhood (as for me)” or “I (not someone else) live…”

What does αλλά mean, and can I replace it with something like όμως?

αλλά is a coordinating conjunction meaning “but / however”, introducing a contrast:

Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά, αλλά η φίλη μου μένει σε μικρό χωριό.
= I live in a quiet neighborhood, but my friend lives in a small village.

όμως also means “however / but,” but it behaves a bit differently:

It is usually placed later in the clause:
Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά, όμως η φίλη μου μένει σε μικρό χωριό.
You can use both αλλά and όμως in many similar contexts, but αλλά directly connects two clauses like “but,” while όμως is a bit more like “however / though.”

Why is there a comma before αλλά?

The comma separates two independent clauses:

Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά (I live in a quiet neighborhood)
η φίλη μου μένει σε μικρό χωριό (my friend lives in a small village)

In Greek, just like in English, you typically put a comma before αλλά when it joins two full clauses:

… , αλλά … = …, but …

How are γειτονιά and χωριό pronounced?

Approximate pronunciation (in IPA):

γειτονιά: /ʝitoˈɲa/
- γ before ει is like the English y in “yes,” but a bit softer: /ʝ/
- νι
  - vowel can sound like the Spanish ñ: /ɲa/ at the end.
χωριό: /xorˈʝo/
- χ is a voiceless fricative, like the ch in German “Bach” or Scottish “loch”: /x/
- ριό sounds roughly like ryó, with ρ rolled/trilled and γ before ι again /ʝ/.

Word stress:

γε‑ι‑το‑νιά (stress on the last syllable)
χω‑ριό (stress on the last syllable)

What case do γειτονιά and χωριό take after σε?

After the preposition σε, nouns go into the accusative case.

σε + (τη) γειτονιά → σε ήσυχη γειτονιά (accusative)
σε + (ένα) χωριό → σε μικρό χωριό (accusative)

So even though you don’t see the article here, grammatically both nouns are in the accusative because of σε.

Can I change the word order, for example: Η φίλη μου σε μικρό χωριό μένει?

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible. Your version:

Η φίλη μου σε μικρό χωριό μένει.

is grammatically correct, but it sounds marked—it puts extra emphasis on σε μικρό χωριό and on the contrast with the previous clause.

The neutral, most natural order here is:

Η φίλη μου μένει σε μικρό χωριό.

Is there any difference in meaning between Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά and Κατοικώ σε ήσυχη γειτονιά?

Both refer to where you live, but:

μένω is everyday, very common: “I live / I stay / I reside.”
κατοικώ is more formal / official, often used in written forms, official language, or when talking about “inhabiting” a place (reside).

So:

Μένω σε ήσυχη γειτονιά. – what you’d normally say in conversation.
Κατοικώ σε ήσυχη γειτονιά. – correct, but sounds more formal, like in written statements or formal speech.