Σήμερα πλένω το τηγάνι στην κουζίνα.

today

Breakdown of Σήμερα πλένω το τηγάνι στην κουζίνα.

• σε: in
• η κουζίνα: the kitchen
• πλένω: to wash

Questions & Answers about Σήμερα πλένω το τηγάνι στην κουζίνα.

Why is there no word for I in the sentence?

In Greek you usually omit subject pronouns, because the verb ending shows who the subject is.

• πλένω is the 1st person singular form of the verb πλένω.
• This ending -ω here tells you the subject is I.

So Σήμερα πλένω το τηγάνι στην κουζίνα is understood as Today I wash / I am washing the frying pan in the kitchen even without an explicit εγώ (I).
You could say Εγώ σήμερα πλένω… for emphasis, but it is not necessary.

What exactly does πλένω mean here – I wash or I am washing?

Greek has one present tense (the present indicative) that covers both:

• I wash (habitual or general)
• I am washing (right now / around now)

So πλένω can mean:

• I wash the frying pan (maybe part of a routine), or
• I am washing the frying pan (today / right now)

The adverb σήμερα (today) makes it sound more like an action that is happening today, often understood as I am washing it today.

Why is σήμερα placed at the beginning? Could it go somewhere else?