Πότε αρχίζει το διάλειμμα στο μάθημα ελληνικών;

Πότε means “when” (used for questions about time).

In questions like this, Πότε normally comes at the beginning of the sentence, just like “When” in English:

• Πότε αρχίζει το διάλειμμα; = When does the break start?

You wouldn’t normally move Πότε later in the sentence; starting with it is the natural, standard word order.

αρχίζει is:

• the 3rd person singular
• present tense
• of the verb αρχίζω = to start, to begin

So it literally means “(he/she/it) starts / is starting.”

In this sentence, the subject is το διάλειμμα (the break), so the meaning is:

• το διάλειμμα αρχίζει = the break starts.

Even though it’s present tense, in Greek it can refer to a scheduled future event, just like English “When does the break start?” (future meaning with present form).

Yes. Two common alternatives are:

• Πότε ξεκινάει το διάλειμμα…
• Πότε ξεκινά το διάλειμμα…

ξεκινά(ει) also means “starts / begins.”

Differences:

• αρχίζει is a bit more neutral and very common.
• ξεκινά(ει) can sound slightly more colloquial in some contexts, but both are fine here.
• Meaning-wise, in this sentence they are practically interchangeable.

In Greek, the definite article (the equivalent of “the”) is used more often than in English.

• το διάλειμμα = the break
• Greek tends to use the article for specific things that are clearly known from context (like “the break” in a class schedule).

You can say just διάλειμμα in some contexts (more like “break time!” or “break!”), but in a full sentence like this, το διάλειμμα is the normal, natural form.

διάλειμμα means “break, pause, interval.”

Common uses:

• A school break: το διάλειμμα στο σχολείο
• A break during lessons, conferences, rehearsals, etc.
• A break in a performance: διάλειμμα στο θέατρο (intermission)

So it’s not only for schools; it’s a general “break in the middle of something.”

στο is a contraction of:

• σε (in, at, on) + το (the – neuter singular article)

So:

• σε + το μάθημα → στο μάθημα = in/at the lesson / class

Greek almost always contracts these:

• σε + το → στο
• σε + τα → στα
• σε + την → στη(ν)
• σε + τους → στους, etc.

μάθημα means “lesson” or “class” (as in a particular subject session).

Grammatically here:

• It is neuter singular accusative.
• After the preposition σε (in/at/on), Greek uses the accusative case:
  • στο μάθημα = in the lesson / in class

So στο μάθημα is “in the lesson / during the class.”

ελληνικών here means “of Greek” (the Greek language).

Details:

• It is the genitive plural of the adjective ελληνικός (Greek).
• The language “Greek” is usually referred to as τα ελληνικά (neuter plural).
• μάθημα ελληνικών literally is “lesson of (the) Greek (language).”

So:

• μάθημα ελληνικών = Greek lesson / Greek class
  (literally: lesson of Greek).

Using the genitive plural like this (e.g., βιβλίο ελληνικών = “Greek textbook”) is a very common pattern in Greek.

In Greek, names of languages and nationalities are normally written with a lowercase letter, unless they start a sentence or are part of a proper name.

So:

• τα ελληνικά = Greek (language)
• ελληνικών = of Greek (language)

This is different from English, where “Greek” is capitalized.

Yes. A more explicit (and slightly more formal) version would be:

• μάθημα της ελληνικής γλώσσας = lesson of the Greek language

But in everyday speech, people much more often say:

• μάθημα ελληνικών

The shorter form is what you’ll hear and use most of the time.

Stresses (marked with bold syllables):

• ΠΌ-τε
• αρ-ΧÍ-ζει
• το
• διΆ-λειμ-μα
• στο
• ΜΆ-θη-μα
• ελ-λη-νι-ΚΌΝ

Approximate pronunciation (English-friendly):

• Πότε αρχίζει το διάλειμμα στο μάθημα ελληνικών;
  → PO-te ar-HÍ-zi to THIÁ-lee-ma sto MÁ-thi-ma e-llee-nee-KÓN?

Each Greek word has one main stress, shown by the accent mark (´) in writing.

A natural answer would be:

• Στις δέκα και μισή. = At ten thirty.

Structure:

• στις = at (for clock times; contraction of σε + τις)
• δέκα = ten
• και μισή = and a half (half past)

So the exchange would be:

• Πότε αρχίζει το διάλειμμα στο μάθημα ελληνικών;
• Στις δέκα και μισή.

Yes:

• μάθημα ελληνικών
  = a Greek (language) class.
  You are learning Greek.

• μάθημα στα ελληνικά
  = a class taught in Greek.
  The subject could be something else (history, math, etc.), but the language of instruction is Greek.

So:

• Πάω σε μάθημα ελληνικών. = I’m going to Greek class.
• Κάνουμε μάθημα στα ελληνικά. = We are having class in Greek.