Learn Hardcore Greek: Σήμερα απλά χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι. - Today I am just relaxing in the living room.

In Greek, both of these are normally expressed with the same form: χαλαρώνω.
Context and time expressions (like σήμερα) tell you whether it means:

Σήμερα απλά χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
→ Today I’m just relaxing in the living room. (right now / today, ongoing)

Versus, for a habitual meaning:

Κάθε Κυριακή χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
→ Every Sunday I relax in the living room.

Why isn’t εγώ (I) used? How do we know the subject is “I”?

Greek is a pro‑drop language: subject pronouns are usually omitted because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

χαλαρώνω can only be I relax / I’m relaxing (1st person singular).
If you wanted to emphasize the subject, you could add εγώ:
- Σήμερα εγώ απλά χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
  → Emphasis: Today I’m the one who’s just relaxing in the living room (not someone else).

In neutral everyday speech, εγώ is left out, as in the original sentence.

What does απλά mean here, and how is it different from μόνο?

Απλά is the adverb form of απλός (simple). It usually means:

simply, just, nothing more than that

In this sentence:

Σήμερα απλά χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
→ Today I’m just relaxing in the living room.
(I’m not doing anything special or complicated.)

Μόνο means only in a more literal, limiting sense:

Σήμερα μόνο χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
Can suggest: Today I only relax in the living room (and do nothing else).
It sounds a bit odd on its own; you’d more often say:
- Σήμερα μόνο χαλαρώνω, δεν δουλεύω.
  Today I only relax, I’m not working.

In casual speech, απλά is extremely common in this “just” / “simply” sense and is very natural in the original sentence.

Can απλά go in other positions in the sentence? Does the meaning change?

Yes, απλά is flexible in position; the main meaning stays the same, but the emphasis can shift slightly.

All of these are natural:

Σήμερα απλά χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
Σήμερα χαλαρώνω απλά στο σαλόνι.
Απλά σήμερα χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
Χαλαρώνω απλά σήμερα στο σαλόνι.

Very roughly:

Early απλά (e.g. second position) often gives a slight emphasis on “today is just a relaxing day”.
Near χαλαρώνω it feels a bit more like “the way I’m spending the day is simply relaxing”.

But in everyday conversation, all of them will be understood simply as:
Today I’m just relaxing in the living room.

What exactly is στο, and why is σαλόνι in that form?

Στο is a contraction of:

σε (preposition: in, at, to)
το (neuter singular definite article: the)

So:

σε + το = στο

Σαλόνι is a neuter noun in the singular:

το σαλόνι = the living room

With σε, Greek uses the accusative case, and for neuter singular that form is also σαλόνι. So:

στο σαλόνι = in the living room / in the lounge

Other examples of contractions with σε:

σε + τον = στον (στον κήπο = in the garden)
σε + την = στην (στην κουζίνα = in the kitchen)
σε + τα = στα (στα δωμάτια = in the rooms)

What gender is σαλόνι, and are there other words for “living room”?

Σαλόνι is:

Gender: neuter
Singular forms:
- Nominative: το σαλόνι
- Accusative: το σαλόνι
  (same form in the neuter)

Another common word is:

το καθιστικό = the sitting room / living room

You could also say:

Σήμερα απλά χαλαρώνω στο καθιστικό.
→ Today I’m just relaxing in the living room.

Both σαλόνι and καθιστικό are widely understood; σαλόνι is very common in everyday speech.

Why isn’t there a verb like “am” (είμαι) here, like “I am relaxing” in English?

Greek does not use είμαι (to be) to form a separate “continuous” tense in the present.

Instead:

English: I relax / I am relaxing
Greek: both → χαλαρώνω

The present tense with imperfective aspect in Greek already covers:

current ongoing actions
regular or habitual actions

So:

Σήμερα απλά χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
→ Today I’m just relaxing in the living room.

You would not say:
✗ Σήμερα είμαι χαλαρώνοντας στο σαλόνι. (incorrect)

Is χαλαρώνω only used for “relaxing,” or does it have other meanings?

Χαλαρώνω has two main uses:

Intransitive (no direct object) – to relax, to unwind
- Μετά τη δουλειά χαλαρώνω.
  After work I relax.
Transitive (with a direct object) – to loosen, to slacken
- Χαλαρώνω τη ζώνη μου.
  I loosen my belt.
- Χαλάρωσε λίγο το σχοινί.
  Loosen the rope a bit.

In your sentence it is clearly the intransitive meaning: to relax, to unwind.

How would the meaning change if we used the future, like θα χαλαρώσω instead of χαλαρώνω?

Changing χαλαρώνω (present) to θα χαλαρώσω (simple future) changes it from “I’m relaxing (today)” to “I will relax (at some point)”.

Σήμερα απλά χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
→ Today I’m just relaxing in the living room. (this is what is happening today)
Σήμερα απλά θα χαλαρώσω στο σαλόνι.
→ Today I’ll just relax in the living room.
(more like a plan or decision about what you’re going to do today)

So:

χαλαρώνω = it is (or characteristically is) happening now / these days.
θα χαλαρώσω = it will happen (at some time today / in the future).

Is there a difference between απλά and απλώς? Could we say Σήμερα απλώς χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι?

Yes, you can say:

Σήμερα απλώς χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.

Απλά and απλώς:

Both mean roughly simply / just.
Απλώς is a bit more formal or “correct” in traditional grammar.
Απλά is extremely common in modern spoken Greek and very natural in casual contexts.

In everyday conversation, απλά is usually preferred, but both are understood with almost the same meaning in this sentence.

How is the whole sentence pronounced?

A simple IPA transcription is:

Σήμερα απλά χαλαρώνω στο σαλόνι.
→ [ˈsimera aˈpla xalaˈrono sto saˈloni]

Syllable breakdown with stress (marked by uppercase):

ΣΊ‑με‑ρα – SI‑me‑ra
α‑ΠΛΆ – a‑PLA
χα‑λα‑ΡΌ‑νω – cha‑la‑RO‑no
στο – sto
σα‑ΛΌ‑νι – sa‑LO‑ni

Where:

χ is like the German ch in Bach, or the j in Spanish jamón.
η / ι / υ / ει / οι / υι are all pronounced like English ee (as in see).