Η φίλη μου είναι εθελόντρια σε μια οργάνωση για τα ζώα.

to be

Breakdown of Η φίλη μου είναι εθελόντρια σε μια οργάνωση για τα ζώα.

• η φίλη: the female friend
• μου: my
• για: for

Questions & Answers about Η φίλη μου είναι εθελόντρια σε μια οργάνωση για τα ζώα.

What does the article Η in Η φίλη tell me?

Η is the definite article “the” in the feminine, singular, nominative form.

• It tells you that φίλη (“friend”) is:
  • feminine (a female friend),
  • singular (one person),
  • and is the subject of the sentence (nominative case).

Other forms for “the”:

• ο φίλος = the (male) friend (masculine nominative singular)
• το παιδί = the child (neuter nominative singular)

So Η φίλη literally means “the (female) friend”.

Why is it φίλη and not φίλος?

Greek has grammatical gender, and many nouns referring to people have distinct masculine and feminine forms.

• φίλος = (male) friend – masculine
• φίλη = (female) friend – feminine

Because the speaker is talking about a female friend, they use the feminine form φίλη. The article agrees with it: η φίλη (not ο φίλος).

Why does μου (“my”) come after φίλη instead of before, like in English “my friend”?