Learn Hardcore Greek: Στη βιντεοκλήση δεν φαίνομαι καλά, γιατί η κάμερα δεν δουλεύει. - In the video call I don’t look good, because the camera doesn’t work.

The -ν in την is often dropped before a consonant (like β in βιντεοκλήση), especially in speech and informal writing, so στη βιντεοκλήση is the usual form.

You could also see στην βιντεοκλήση in more careful or formal writing, but σε τη βιντεοκλήση (without contraction) is not used in modern standard Greek.

What exactly does Στη βιντεοκλήση mean? Is it “in the video call”, “on the video call”, or “during the video call”?

The Greek preposition σε is very flexible. It can cover meanings that English expresses with in, on, at, during.

In this sentence, Στη βιντεοκλήση most closely corresponds to:

“On the video call” or “In the video call” in English.

It describes the situation or context in which the speaker doesn’t look good — the setting of the video call. In English you might naturally say:

“On the video call I don’t look good, because the camera isn’t working.”

Greek just uses σε + accusative (στη βιντεοκλήση) to express that context.

What case is βιντεοκλήση in here, and why?

βιντεοκλήση is in the accusative singular.

Reason: the preposition σε in modern Greek always takes the accusative case.

σε + (accusative) → στη βιντεοκλήση

Even though the accusative and nominative forms look the same for many feminine nouns in -ση, grammatically this is accusative.

Basic forms of η βιντεοκλήση (the video call):

Nominative: η βιντεοκλήση
Genitive: της βιντεοκλήσης (also βιντεοκλήσεως in very formal style)
Accusative: τη(ν) βιντεοκλήση

How do we know that βιντεοκλήση is feminine?

Several clues:

The article: η βιντεοκλήση (nominative) and τη(ν) βιντεοκλήση (accusative).
- η / την / τη are feminine singular articles.
The ending: many feminine nouns end in -ση / -ξη / -ψη, spelled with -ση in the nominative (here -κλήση).

So βιντεοκλήση behaves like a regular feminine noun in -ση.

What does δεν φαίνομαι literally mean, and how does φαίνομαι work?

φαίνομαι is the middle/passive form of the verb φαίνω, but in modern Greek φαίνομαι is used as a “deponent” verb: it has middle/passive form but an active meaning.

Core meanings of φαίνομαι:

I appear / I seem / I look (in the sense of appearance)
- Δεν φαίνομαι καλά. → I don’t look good / I don’t appear well.

It can also mean:

I am visible / I can be seen
- Από εδώ δεν φαίνομαι. → You can’t see me from here.

In this sentence it’s clearly “I don’t look good (on camera)”, not “I am not seen”.

Conjugation (present, indicative):

(εγώ) φαίνομαι – I appear
(εσύ) φαίνεσαι – you appear
(αυτός/αυτή/αυτό) φαίνεται – he/she/it appears
(εμείς) φαινόμαστε – we appear
(εσείς) φαίνεστε – you (pl/formal) appear
(αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά) φαίνονται – they appear

Why is it δεν φαίνομαι καλά and not δεν είμαι καλά? What’s the difference?

Δεν φαίνομαι καλά = I don’t look good / I don’t appear well (visually).
Focus: how your image looks (e.g. on camera, in a mirror, in a photo).
Δεν είμαι καλά = I’m not well (usually health or mood).
Focus: your state (physical, emotional), not your appearance.

Because the problem in the sentence is the camera, we care about how the person looks on the screen, so φαίνομαι is the right verb.

Why is καλά used, and not καλός / καλή / καλό?

καλά here is an adverb, meaning well.

φαίνομαι καλά → I appear well / I look good.

Adjectives (καλός, καλή, καλό) describe nouns:

καλός άνθρωπος – a good person
καλή εικόνα – a good picture
καλό παιδί – a good child

Adverbs like καλά describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs:

μιλάω καλά – I speak well
δεν φαίνομαι καλά – I don’t appear well

So you need καλά to modify the verb φαίνομαι.

Where is the subject “I” in δεν φαίνομαι? Why isn’t εγώ used?

In Greek, the subject pronoun is often dropped, because the verb ending already shows the person and number.

φαίνομαι → 1st person singular → I appear.

So:

Δεν φαίνομαι καλά.
Literally: Not I-appear well → I don’t look good.

You can add εγώ for emphasis:

Εγώ δεν φαίνομαι καλά. → I don’t look good (as opposed to someone else).

But the neutral, unmarked form simply omits εγώ.

Could the word order be different? For example, can I say Καλά δεν φαίνομαι or Δεν καλά φαίνομαι?

Greek word order is fairly flexible, but not every permutation sounds natural.

Δεν φαίνομαι καλά.
This is the most natural, neutral order here.
Καλά δεν φαίνομαι.
Possible, but this puts emphasis on καλά and often sounds like:
- Well, I really don’t look good / I certainly don’t look good
  It’s marked and more “expressive”.
Δεν καλά φαίνομαι.
This is not correct. The adverb καλά normally follows the verb here; putting it between δεν and the verb is ungrammatical in standard Greek.

So for normal, neutral speech: Δεν φαίνομαι καλά.

Why are there two δεν in the sentence? Could we say it with only one?

The sentence has two separate clauses, each with its own verb:

(Στη βιντεοκλήση) δεν φαίνομαι καλά
γιατί η κάμερα δεν δουλεύει

In Greek, each clause normally needs its own negation:

Clause 1: δεν φαίνομαι
Clause 2: δεν δουλεύει

You cannot let the first δεν “cover” both verbs.

You can change the order inside the second clause (for emphasis):

γιατί δεν δουλεύει η κάμερα.

…but you still need δεν before δουλεύει.

What’s the difference between δεν and μην? Why is δεν used here?

Basic rule:

δεν is used for negating indicative verbs (normal statements, questions about reality).
μη(ν) is used with:
- the subjunctive (with να, ας, etc.)
- negative commands (μη(ν) + imperative)
- some fixed expressions.

In the sentence:

φαίνομαι and δουλεύει are both present indicative.
→ So you must use δεν:
- δεν φαίνομαι – I don’t appear
- δεν δουλεύει – it doesn’t work

Examples with μη(ν) for contrast:

Να μη(ν) φαίνεσαι τόσο σοβαρός. – Don’t appear so serious.
Μη δουλεύεις τόσο πολύ. – Don’t work so much.

What does γιατί mean here? How do I know if it’s “why” or “because”?

γιατί can mean both:

why (question)
because (conjunction because)

In this sentence it clearly means because:

…δεν φαίνομαι καλά, γιατί η κάμερα δεν δουλεύει.
→ …I don’t look good, because the camera isn’t working.

Clues:

It’s in the middle of the sentence, introducing a reason.
There is a comma before it, which often separates the main clause from the reason clause.
The sentence is not a question overall.

When γιατί starts a sentence with a question mark, it usually means why:

Γιατί δεν φαίνεσαι καλά; – Why don’t you look good?

Why is there a comma before γιατί?

The comma separates:

the main clause: Στη βιντεοκλήση δεν φαίνομαι καλά
from the subordinate clause of reason: γιατί η κάμερα δεν δουλεύει

In Greek, a comma is normally used before conjunctions like γιατί, επειδή, όταν, etc., when they introduce a subordinate clause explaining reason, time, condition, etc.

So the comma is parallel to English:

I don’t look good on the video call, because the camera isn’t working.

Why do we use δουλεύει for the camera? Isn’t δουλεύω “to work (like a person working)”?

δουλεύω has two main uses:

A person works (has a job / is working)
- Δουλεύω σε γραφείο. – I work in an office.
A device / system works, functions, operates
- Η κάμερα δουλεύει. – The camera works / is working.
- Το κινητό δεν δουλεύει. – The phone doesn’t work.

In English you might say “the camera works / is working”; in Greek δουλεύει is the standard verb for this.

You wouldn’t usually use εργάζομαι for machines; εργάζομαι is for people working in a more formal register.