Learn Hardcore Greek: Όταν όμως η δασκάλα εξηγεί αργά, δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος. - But when the teacher explains slowly, I am not so confused anymore.

For repeated / general actions, Greek normally uses the present tense in both clauses (as here).
For one specific event in the past, you usually see past tenses in both clauses.

Examples:

Όταν διαβάζω, δεν θέλω φασαρία. – When/whenever I study, I don’t want noise.
Όταν ήμουν μικρός, έπαιζα έξω. – When I was young, I used to play outside.

What does όμως add to the meaning, and why is it placed after Όταν?

Όμως means roughly but / however. It marks a contrast with what was said before, e.g.:

“Usually I’m confused. But when the teacher explains slowly, I’m not so confused anymore.”

Position:

It often comes second in the clause, after the first word or phrase:
- Όμως δεν καταλαβαίνω.
- Εγώ όμως δεν καταλαβαίνω.
- Όταν όμως η δασκάλα εξηγεί αργά…

Putting it first (Όμως όταν…) is also possible in some contexts, but Όταν όμως… is very natural and common in spoken Greek.

Why is it η δασκάλα and not something like η δάσκαλα? What’s the gender and form here?

Η δασκάλα means the (female) teacher.

δάσκαλος = male teacher (masculine)
- ο δάσκαλος
δασκάλα = female teacher (feminine)
- η δασκάλα

So:

η is the feminine article (the) for singular:
- η δασκάλα – the (female) teacher
There is no form η δάσκαλα; that would mix the masculine and feminine endings incorrectly.

What exactly does εξηγεί mean, and which tense and person is it?

εξηγεί is the 3rd person singular, present tense of the verb εξηγώ (to explain).

So:

(αυτός / αυτή / αυτό) εξηγεί = he / she / it explains, is explaining

In this sentence:

η δασκάλα εξηγεί αργά = the teacher explains slowly or the teacher is explaining slowly

Modern Greek present tense usually covers both English simple and continuous:

εξηγεί = “explains” or “is explaining”, depending on context.

Is αργά an adjective or an adverb here? Why is it not αργή?

Here αργά is an adverb meaning slowly.

αργός, -ή, -ό = slow (adjective)
- αργός υπολογιστής – a slow computer
αργά = slowly / late (adverb)
- μιλάει αργά – he/she speaks slowly

Because it modifies the verb (εξηγεί), we need the adverb form αργά, not the adjective αργή.

Why is there a comma before δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος? Is this required in Greek?

Yes, the comma is standard and correct here.

Όταν όμως η δασκάλα εξηγεί αργά, = subordinate time clause
δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος. = main clause

In Greek, a comma is normally used to separate:

a subordinate clause (like one starting with Όταν) from the main clause.

So the structure mirrors English punctuation:
When …, I am not … → Όταν …, δεν είμαι …

What does πια mean here, and how is it different from words like ήδη or τώρα?

πια here means anymore / no longer / now (as a change from before).

In δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος:

The idea is: I’m not so confused anymore (but I used to be).

Comparison:

πια – focuses on a change compared to the past:
- Δεν καπνίζω πια. – I don’t smoke anymore.
ήδη – already:
- Το κατάλαβες ήδη; – Have you already understood it?
τώρα – now (in time):
- Τώρα καταλαβαίνω. – Now I understand.

So πια often appears with negatives to mean “no longer / not anymore.”

What does τόσο add in τόσο μπερδεμένος? Could we just say δεν είμαι πια μπερδεμένος?

τόσο means so / that much / so much and intensifies the adjective.

μπερδεμένος – confused
τόσο μπερδεμένος – so confused / that confused

The nuance:

δεν είμαι πια μπερδεμένος – I’m not confused anymore.
δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος – I’m not as confused anymore / I’m not so confused anymore
(maybe still a little confused, but not to the same degree)

So τόσο weakens the negation slightly: it talks about degree rather than an absolute state.

What kind of word is μπερδεμένος? Is it an adjective or some kind of participle?

μπερδεμένος is both:

an adjective meaning confused, and
historically, a perfective passive participle of μπερδεύω (to mix up / to confuse).

In practice, you mostly treat it as an adjective:

είμαι μπερδεμένος – I am confused.
είναι πολύ μπερδεμένος – he is very confused.

It agrees in gender and number:

μπερδεμένος (masc. sg.)
μπερδεμένη (fem. sg.)
μπερδεμένο (neut. sg.)

Here, the speaker is male, so μπερδεμένος is masculine singular:

δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος.

Why is the subject “I” not written? How do we know it’s “I am” and not some other person?

Greek often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending shows person and number.

είμαι = I am
είσαι = you are
είναι = he/she/it is
etc.

So:

δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος clearly means I am not so confused anymore, even without εγώ.

You can add the pronoun for emphasis:

Εγώ δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος. – I am not so confused anymore (maybe someone else is).

Could we say όταν η δασκάλα όμως εξηγεί αργά or όταν η δασκάλα εξηγεί όμως αργά? How flexible is the word order?

Greek word order is somewhat flexible, but not every position sounds natural.

Most natural here:

Όταν όμως η δασκάλα εξηγεί αργά…

Other options:

Όταν η δασκάλα όμως εξηγεί αργά… – possible, but sounds heavier / less neutral.
Όταν η δασκάλα εξηγεί όμως αργά… – sounds awkward; όμως doesn’t normally go there.

General tendencies:

όμως prefers to be:
- at the start of the clause: Όμως δεν είμαι…
- or in second position after the first word/phrase: Όταν όμως…, Εγώ όμως…

So the original placement is the most idiomatic for this sentence.

How would the sentence change if the speaker were female? Would we still say μπερδεμένος?

If the speaker is female, the adjective must agree in gender:

Male speaker:
δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένος.
Female speaker:
δεν είμαι πια τόσο μπερδεμένη.

Only μπερδεμένος / μπερδεμένη / μπερδεμένο changes; the rest of the sentence stays the same.