Η συνταγή γράφει όλα τα υλικά, όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο.

The recipe lists all the ingredients, such as rice, oil and olive oil.

Breakdown of Η συνταγή γράφει όλα τα υλικά, όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο.

• και: and
• γράφω: to write
• όλος: all
• όπως: like
• το ρύζι: the rice
• το λάδι: the oil
• το ελαιόλαδο: the olive oil
• η συνταγή: the recipe
• το υλικό: the ingredient

Questions & Answers about Η συνταγή γράφει όλα τα υλικά, όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο.

What does Η συνταγή γράφει literally mean, and why can a recipe write something in Greek?

Literally, Η συνταγή γράφει means The recipe writes.

In Greek, it’s very common to use γράφει (it writes) with books, recipes, notes, etc., where in English we would normally say:

• The recipe says
• The recipe lists
• The recipe gives the ingredients

So:

• Η συνταγή γράφει όλα τα υλικά ≈ The recipe lists all the ingredients / The recipe says all the ingredients

Greek is simply treating the recipe as a thing that “writes” its contents, even though in English we avoid that and prefer say, list, give, etc.

What person and number is γράφει, and what is its subject in this sentence?

γράφει is:

• 3rd person
• singular
• present tense of γράφω (to write)

In Η συνταγή γράφει όλα τα υλικά, the subject is η συνταγή (the recipe). So grammatically:

• Η συνταγή (she/it)
• γράφει (writes)
• όλα τα υλικά (all the ingredients)

Why is it η συνταγή and not ο συνταγή or το συνταγή?

In Greek, every noun has grammatical gender. συνταγή (recipe) is:

• Feminine noun
• Singular: η συνταγή (the recipe)
• Plural: οι συνταγές (the recipes)

So you must use the feminine definite article η:

• η συνταγή = the recipe
• της συνταγής = of the recipe
• τη συνταγή = the recipe (object)

ο is masculine, το is neuter, so they do not match the gender of συνταγή.

What exactly does υλικά mean here? Is it only ingredients, or can it mean other things?

υλικά is the plural of υλικό and generally means materials. Its meaning depends on the context:

• In cooking: υλικά = ingredients
• In construction: οικοδομικά υλικά = building materials
• In general: υλικά = physical materials, things you use to make something

So in a cooking context, υλικά is correctly understood as ingredients.

Why is it όλα τα υλικά and not something like όλες τις υλικά?

υλικά is:

• Neuter
• Plural nominative (subject or complement)

The phrase όλα τα υλικά is:

• όλα = all (neuter plural form of όλος)
• τα = neuter plural definite article
• υλικά = neuter plural noun

All three words agree in gender (neuter) and number (plural).

όλες τις υλικά would be wrong for two reasons:

1. όλες = feminine plural, but υλικά is neuter.
2. τις = feminine plural article, again not matching υλικά.

Why is there no article before ρύζι, λάδι, and ελαιόλαδο?

In Greek, mass nouns or indefinite items in lists often appear without an article, especially in recipes or instructions. For example:

• ρύζι = rice
• λάδι = oil
• ελαιόλαδο = olive oil

In a recipe, you typically list ingredients like this:

• ρύζι, λάδι, ελαιόλαδο, αλάτι, πιπέρι
  (no articles)

If you add the article, it sounds more specific or definite:

• το ρύζι = the rice (a particular rice already mentioned)

Here, we’re just naming types of ingredients, so Greek naturally omits the article.

What does όπως mean here, and how is it different from σαν?

In this sentence, όπως means such as / like in the sense of giving examples:

• όλα τα υλικά, όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο
  = all the ingredients, such as rice, oil and olive oil

Typical uses:

• όπως for such as / like (for example):

  • Μου αρέσουν τα φρούτα, όπως μήλα και πορτοκάλια.
    = I like fruits, such as apples and oranges.

• σαν often means like / as in comparisons or roles:

  • Είναι σαν αδερφός για μένα. = He is like a brother to me.
  • Δουλεύει σαν δάσκαλος. = He works as a teacher.

You can sometimes hear σαν instead of όπως in colloquial speech for examples, but in careful or written language, όπως is the more standard choice for such as.

What is the difference between λάδι and ελαιόλαδο?

• λάδι literally means oil in general, but in everyday Greek it often implies olive oil by default, especially in cooking.
• ελαιόλαδο specifically means olive oil (from olives).

So:

• λάδι = oil (commonly olive oil, but could be generic)
• ελαιόλαδο = olive oil (explicit)

In a recipe, if you see only λάδι, people usually assume olive oil unless the recipe specifies otherwise (for example, ηλιέλαιο = sunflower oil).

Isn’t λάδι και ελαιόλαδο redundant, since both can mean olive oil?

It can feel redundant, and by itself the phrase is a bit unusual. Possible interpretations:

1. Stylistic repetition / emphasis
   The writer might be being extra clear that they mean oil, specifically olive oil.

2. Two different oils (less likely here, because only ελαιόλαδο is specific)
   If they meant two oils, they would normally say something like:

   • λάδι (π.χ. ηλιέλαιο) και ελαιόλαδο
     = oil (e.g. sunflower oil) and olive oil

In many natural contexts you would just write:

• …όπως ρύζι και ελαιόλαδο
  or
• …όπως ρύζι, λάδι (with the understanding that λάδι = olive oil)

So yes, it can sound a bit repetitive unless there is a context where they contrast λάδι (some other oil) with ελαιόλαδο.

Could I replace γράφει with another verb like λέει or αναφέρει? Would the meaning change?

Yes, you can use other verbs, with slightly different style or nuance:

• Η συνταγή λέει όλα τα υλικά…
  = The recipe says all the ingredients…
  (Very common in spoken language.)

• Η συνταγή αναφέρει όλα τα υλικά…
  = The recipe mentions/lists all the ingredients…
  (More formal or written style.)

• Η συνταγή περιλαμβάνει όλα τα υλικά…
  = The recipe includes all the ingredients…
  (Focus on inclusion.)

All of these are understandable. γράφει and λέει are the most colloquial and frequent ways you will see in everyday speech about what a recipe or a text contains.

Can I change the word order, for example say Η συνταγή γράφει, όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο, όλα τα υλικά?

That particular reordering sounds strange and unnatural in Greek. The standard, natural order is:

• Η συνταγή γράφει όλα τα υλικά, όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο.

You have some limited flexibility, for example:

• Η συνταγή γράφει όλα τα υλικά της, όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο.
• Η συνταγή γράφει, όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο, όλα τα υλικά που χρειάζεσαι.
  (Still a bit marked, but now more supported by extra words.)

Generally, for clarity and naturalness, keep:

1. Verb phrase: Η συνταγή γράφει όλα τα υλικά
2. Then the example phrase: όπως ρύζι, λάδι και ελαιόλαδο