Learn Hardcore Greek: Δεν θυμάμαι τι είπα στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση με τον διευθυντή. - I don't remember what I said in the previous video call with the manager.

Δεν is the standard negation for verbs in the indicative mood (statements of fact). It always comes directly before the verb (or before the auxiliary, if there is one).

Why is θυμάμαι in the middle/reflexive form instead of an active form like θυμώ?

In Modern Greek, some verbs are commonly used in the middle or so‑called “reflexive” form, even though they are not reflexive in meaning. Θυμάμαι is one of these.

θυμάμαι is the 1st person singular, present tense, middle/passive: I remember.
There is an older active form θυμώ in the language, but in modern everyday Greek it typically means I am angry (from θυμός, anger), not I remember.

So:

Δεν θυμάμαι = I don’t remember
Δεν θυμώ would not be understood as I don’t remember; it would sound wrong or archaic.

Why do we say τι είπα and not τι λέω if the English is “what I said”?

Greek distinguishes strongly between completed actions (aorist) and ongoing/habitual actions (present).

λέω = I say / I am saying (present)
είπα = I said (aorist, completed past)

In this sentence, we are talking about something you said at a specific time in the past (during that call), and that action is finished. So Greek uses the aorist:

τι είπα = what I said (on that occasion)

Using τι λέω here would sound like what am I saying (right now) or what do I say (in general), which is not the intended meaning.

What is the verb είπα from? It doesn’t look like λέω.

Είπα is the aorist (simple past) of λέω (I say).

This is an irregular verb:

Present: λέω (I say)
Aorist (simple past): είπα (I said)
Imperfect (continuous past): έλεγα (I was saying / I used to say)

So in the sentence, τι είπα is simply what I said.

Why is it στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση and not just σε προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση?

Στην is a contraction of σε + την:

σε = in / at / to / on
την = the (feminine accusative singular article)

So:

στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση = in the previous video call

If you said σε προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση (without την), it would mean in a previous video call, more indefinite. With στην, you are referring to a specific previous call that both speakers know about.

Why is προηγούμενη in the feminine form?

Προηγούμενη is an adjective meaning previous. In Greek, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

The noun βιντεοκλήση (video call) is:

Feminine gender
Singular
Accusative case (because it is the object of σε)

So the adjective also appears as feminine singular accusative:

προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση = previous video call

If the noun were masculine, you would see προηγούμενο or προηγούμενος depending on role; but here it must match βιντεοκλήση.

Why is it βιντεοκλήση and not something like βίντεο κλήση?

Modern Greek often forms compound words where English would use two separate words. Βιντεοκλήση is such a compound:

βίντεο (video)
κλήση (call, as in phone call)

Combined: βιντεοκλήση (video call). The stress falls on -κλή-.

You might sometimes see it written as two words in informal contexts, but the standard dictionary form is the single compound βιντεοκλήση.

Why is βιντεοκλήση in the accusative case here?

The preposition σε (in, at, to, on) normally requires the accusative case.

The phrase στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση means in the previous video call, and because it is governed by σε, the noun must be accusative:

Nominative: η βιντεοκλήση
Accusative: τη(ν) βιντεοκλήση

So: στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση is grammatically required.

Why do we say με τον διευθυντή and not something like με τον διευθυντής?

The preposition με (with) also takes the accusative case.

The noun διευθυντής (director, manager) is:

Nominative: ο διευθυντής (subject form)
Accusative: τον διευθυντή (object form, after prepositions, etc.)

Since it comes after με, we must use the accusative:

με τον διευθυντή = with the director / manager

Using με τον διευθυντής would be incorrect because διευθυντής is nominative, not accusative.

Is there any difference between διευθυντής and the English director or manager?

Διευθυντής is a general term for someone who is in charge of a department, company, or organization. Depending on context, it can correspond to:

manager
director
head / chief

In a work context, με τον διευθυντή will usually be understood as with my (or the) manager/boss unless the context clearly indicates something like a school principal or the director of an institution.

Could I say Δεν θυμάμαι τι είπα στην τελευταία βιντεοκλήση instead of στην προηγούμενη?

Yes, but the nuance changes slightly:

στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση = in the previous video call (the one before the current one, or before some reference point)
στην τελευταία βιντεοκλήση = in the last video call (the most recent one, or possibly the final one, depending on context)

In many real situations, προηγούμενη and τελευταία might refer to the same call (the one right before now), but τελευταία can also carry the meaning final, which προηγούμενη does not.

Why is δεν used here and not μη(ν)?

Greek has two main negation particles:

δεν: used in normal indicative sentences (statements, questions about facts)
μη / μην: used with non‑indicative forms (imperative, subjunctive, some set phrases)

In our sentence, θυμάμαι is indicative present (I remember), so the standard negation is δεν:

Δεν θυμάμαι τι είπα… = I don’t remember what I said…

You would use μη(ν) in sentences like:

Μην θυμώσεις. = Don’t get angry.
Να μην ξεχάσεις. = Don’t forget.

Is the word order Δεν θυμάμαι τι είπα στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση με τον διευθυντή fixed, or can I move things around?

Greek word order is somewhat flexible, but what you have is the most natural, neutral order:

Δεν θυμάμαι τι είπα = I don’t remember what I said
στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση με τον διευθυντή = in the previous video call with the director

You could slightly rearrange for emphasis, for example:

Δεν θυμάμαι, στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση με τον διευθυντή, τι είπα. (very marked, focusing on the setting)

But the basic order in your sentence is the one most speakers would normally use.

Could I replace τι είπα with τι είχα πει? What would change?

Yes, grammatically you can say:

Δεν θυμάμαι τι είχα πει στην προηγούμενη βιντεοκλήση…

Είχα πει is the past perfect (pluperfect): I had said.

Nuance:

τι είπα: simple reference to what you said in that call.
τι είχα πει: emphasizes that this was said before some other past event (for example, before another discussion or a decision).

In everyday speech, most people will just use the simpler τι είπα unless they really need to highlight that sequence of events in the past.