Πότε αρχίζει το διάλειμμα στο μάθημα ελληνικών;

When does the break start in the Greek class?

Breakdown of Πότε αρχίζει το διάλειμμα στο μάθημα ελληνικών;

• πότε: when
• σε: in
• αρχίζω: to start
• το μάθημα: the class
• τα ελληνικά: the Greek language
• το διάλειμμα: the break

Questions & Answers about Πότε αρχίζει το διάλειμμα στο μάθημα ελληνικών;

What does Πότε mean, and is its position in the sentence fixed?

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.

What form of the verb is αρχίζει, and what does it literally mean?

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).

Can I use another verb instead of αρχίζει, like ξεκινάει?

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.

Why do we say το διάλειμμα and not just διάλειμμα?

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.

What does διάλειμμα mean exactly? Is it only a school break?

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.”

What is στο in στο μάθημα? Why not σε το μάθημα?

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.

What case is μάθημα in, and what does it mean?

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.”

What does ελληνικών mean, and why is it in that form?

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.

Why is ελληνικών not capitalized like “Greek” in English?

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.

Could the phrase μάθημα ελληνικών be said in a more “spelled-out” way?

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.

How is the whole sentence pronounced and where is the stress?

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.

How would you answer this question in Greek? For example: “At 10:30.”

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.

Is there any difference in meaning between μάθημα ελληνικών and μάθημα στα ελληνικά?

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.