Learn Hardcore Greek: Σήμερα φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι και δεν πάω έξω. - Today I make coffee at home and I’m not going out.

So εγώ is understood from the verb endings. You would normally add εγώ only for emphasis, e.g. Εγώ σήμερα φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι… (I, not someone else, am making coffee at home…).

Why is it καφέ and not καφές here?

Καφές is a masculine noun with these main singular forms:

ο καφές – nominative (subject)
τον καφέ – accusative (object)
του καφέ – genitive

In φτιάχνω καφέ, καφέ is the object of the verb, so it’s in the accusative case. The article is just left out (see next question). So:

ο καφές είναι ζεστός – the coffee is hot (subject → nominative)
φτιάχνω καφέ – I make coffee (object → accusative, no article)

Why is there no article with καφέ? Why not φτιάχνω τον καφέ?

When you talk about coffee in general or an unspecified amount (like English coffee / some coffee), Greek often omits the article:

Πίνω καφέ. – I drink coffee.
Θέλεις καφέ; – Do you want (some) coffee?

If you say τον καφέ, you usually mean a specific coffee that both speakers know:

Φτιάχνω τον καφέ σου. – I’m making your (specific) coffee.
Φέρε μου τον καφέ. – Bring me the coffee.

In the sentence you gave, it’s just making coffee in general, so no article: φτιάχνω καφέ.

What does στο mean? Is it one word or two?

Στο is a contraction of σε + το:

σε = in, at, to (a very general preposition)
το = the (neuter singular article)

So:

στο σπίτι = σε το σπίτι → in/at the house, at home.

In modern Greek you almost always use the contracted form στο, not σε το.

What is the difference between στο σπίτι and just σπίτι?

Both can translate as at home, but there’s a nuance:

στο σπίτι = literally at the house. It can mean at home in a neutral way.
σπίτι (without a preposition or article) is often used adverbially and very naturally means at home.

Examples:

Είμαι στο σπίτι. – I’m at (the) home / at home.
Είμαι σπίτι. – I’m home. (very common, sounds a bit more colloquial/natural)

You’ll hear both a lot; είμαι σπίτι is especially common in speech.

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

Yes, σήμερα (today) can move around. Greek word order is fairly flexible. You can say:

Σήμερα φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι…
Φτιάχνω σήμερα καφέ στο σπίτι…
Φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι σήμερα…

All are grammatically correct. Putting σήμερα first slightly emphasizes today as the time frame: Today (as opposed to other days) I’m making coffee at home and not going out.

In English I would say “Today I’m making coffee at home and I’m not going out.” Does Greek have a separate -ing form? Is φτιάχνω present simple or present continuous?

Modern Greek has one present tense form (like φτιάχνω, πάω) that covers both:

present simple (I make / I go) and
present continuous (I’m making / I’m going)

Context decides which English form is best:

Κάθε μέρα φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι. – Every day I make coffee at home.
Σήμερα φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι. – Today I’m making coffee at home.

So φτιάχνω here corresponds to I’m making in English, even though it’s not a different form in Greek.

Could I use θα φτιάξω καφέ instead of φτιάχνω καφέ to talk about today?

You can, but the meaning shifts slightly:

Σήμερα φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι… – suggests a plan that feels quite fixed / arranged, or something you’re doing as part of today’s routine.
Σήμερα θα φτιάξω καφέ στο σπίτι… – focuses more on the future event itself: Today I will make coffee at home…

Both are correct; the version with φτιάχνω is very natural when talking about plans for today, similar to English “Today I’m making coffee at home…”.

What’s the difference between δεν and μη(ν)? Why is it δεν πάω έξω here?

Greek has two main negative particles:

δεν – used with normal (indicative) verb forms in statements and questions.
- Δεν πάω έξω. – I’m not going out.
- Δεν θέλω καφέ. – I don’t want coffee.
μη(ν) – used mainly with:
- the subjunctive (να μην πάω, να μη μιλήσεις)
- negative commands/prohibitions (Μη φεύγεις!)
- some set expressions

Because πάω here is just a plain statement in the indicative, you use δεν: δεν πάω έξω.

Could I say δεν βγαίνω έξω instead of δεν πάω έξω? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can say δεν βγαίνω έξω, and it’s very common. Both mean I’m not going out, but:

πάω έξω – literally I go out(side); neutral.
βγαίνω έξω – literally I go out / exit outside; very idiomatic for going out (socially, leaving the house).

In everyday speech, δεν βγαίνω έξω often sounds a bit more natural when you mean I’m not going out (to go somewhere / socialize).

Does έξω always mean “outside”? Why isn’t it έξω από το σπίτι?

Έξω is an adverb meaning outside, out. Very often it is used by itself:

Δεν πάω έξω. – I’m not going out / I’m not going outside.
Θα κάτσω έξω. – I’ll sit outside.

You can say έξω από το σπίτι (outside the house) when you want to be more specific, but in a sentence like yours, έξω alone is enough and more natural; the context (making coffee at home) already implies not going out of the house or not going out somewhere.

What exactly does φτιάχνω mean? Is it just “make”, or also “fix”?

Φτιάχνω is quite versatile. Common meanings include:

make / prepare:
- φτιάχνω καφέ – make coffee
- φτιάχνω ένα σάντουιτς – make a sandwich
- φτιάχνω μια λίστα – make a list
fix / repair:
- φτιάχνω το κινητό μου – I’m fixing my phone
- Ο μάστορας φτιάχνει την πόρτα. – The handyman is fixing the door.

Here it clearly means make/prepare coffee from context (καφέ).

Why is it και δεν πάω έξω (and I don’t go out) and not αλλά δεν πάω έξω (but I don’t go out)? In English I might say “but I’m not going out.”

Both και and αλλά are possible, but they feel different:

και = and; it simply adds another statement:
- Σήμερα φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι και δεν πάω έξω.
  – Today I’m making coffee at home and I’m not going out.
αλλά = but; it adds a contrast or opposition:
- Σήμερα δεν φτιάχνω καφέ στο σπίτι, αλλά πάω έξω.
  – Today I’m not making coffee at home, but I’m going out.

In your sentence there isn’t a strong contrast between the two actions; they’re just two related facts about today, so και is the natural choice.