Learn Hardcore Greek: Ζεσταίνω το φαγητό στον φούρνο πριν το φάμε. - I heat the food in the oven before we eat it.

It’s a transitive verb: it takes a direct object (here: το φαγητό – the food).
In this sentence it is in the present simple (first person singular): εγώ ζεσταίνω = I heat/warm up.
It usually means warming to a comfortable / edible temperature, not scientifically “raising temperature” in a neutral way.
- ζεσταίνω το φαγητό = I warm up the food (to eat it)
- θερμαίνω το νερό = I heat the water (more formal/technical)

Why is the subject “I” not written? Where is the subject in Greek?

The subject is included in the verb ending.

ζεσταίνω = I warm (up)
The ending -ω here tells us it is 1st person singular (I).
Greek usually omits subject pronouns (εγώ, εσύ, αυτός...) when it’s clear from context and verb endings.
You could say Εγώ ζεσταίνω το φαγητό, but that often sounds like you’re emphasizing I (as opposed to someone else).

What is το φαγητό grammatically? Why το?

Το φαγητό means the food / the meal.

φαγητό is a neuter noun, singular.
το is the neuter singular definite article in the nominative and accusative.
In this sentence, το φαγητό is the direct object of ζεσταίνω, so it is in the accusative case, and the article το stays the same:
- nominative: το φαγητό (as subject)
- accusative: το φαγητό (as object) — same form in neuter.

Why do we say στον φούρνο and not just σε φούρνο? What is στον?

Στον is a contraction of σε + τον.

σε = in / at / to (generic preposition)
τον = masculine singular definite article (accusative)
σε + τον φούρνο → στον φούρνο = in the oven.

So:

στον φούρνο = in the oven (specific oven)
σε φούρνο = in an oven (less specific, less common in this everyday context)

Grammatically, φούρνος is:

masculine noun
accusative singular: τον φούρνο
combining with σε: στον φούρνο.

Why is φούρνο in the accusative after the preposition σε?

In modern Greek, σε is followed by forms that look like the accusative.

So:

ο φούρνος (nominative, subject)
τον φούρνο (accusative, object / after many prepositions)

Even though in English we say in the oven, Greek uses σε + accusative:

στον φούρνο (σε + τον φούρνο)
στο τραπέζι (σε + το τραπέζι) = on/at the table
στην πόλη (σε + την πόλη) = in the city

How is πριν το φάμε functioning? Why this structure after πριν?

Πριν το φάμε means before we eat it.

πριν introduces something that happens earlier in time.
In modern Greek, πριν + subjunctive is very common for before doing something:
- πριν φύγουμε = before we leave
- πριν το φάμε = before we eat it

Here:

φάμε is the subjunctive of τρώω (we eat).
The “να” that often marks subjunctive (να φάμε) is omitted after πριν, but the form φάμε is still subjunctive.

So the pattern is:

πριν + (να) + subjunctive
→ πριν (να) φάμε, πριν το φάμε

Why is it φάμε and not τρώμε? Aren’t both forms of “to eat”?

Both come from τρώω (to eat), but:

τρώμε is present indicative: we eat / we are eating.
φάμε is aorist subjunctive: we eat (once, as a whole event).

After πριν, Greek normally uses the subjunctive aorist to talk about one future/expected event:

πριν φύγουμε (before we leave)
πριν το φάμε (before we eat it – one act of eating)

Using τρώμε there would sound wrong. Πριν το φάμε is the standard, natural form.

What does the το in πριν το φάμε refer to?

The το is a direct object pronoun meaning it, and it refers back to το φαγητό.

το φαγητό (the food) → later replaced by pronoun το (it).
πριν το φάμε = before we eat it.

So the structure is:

Ζεσταίνω το φαγητό… (I warm up the food…)
…πριν το φάμε. (…before we eat it.)

In Greek, repeating the full noun here (πριν φάμε το φαγητό) is possible but less natural; the pronoun is preferred.

Why is the pronoun το placed before φάμε, and not after it?

Greek object pronouns like το, τον, την normally go before the verb in simple clauses:

Το τρώμε. = We eat it.
Το βλέπω. = I see it.

So:

πριν το φάμε is the normal order: πριν + [object pronoun] + verb.

Putting it after (πριν φάμε το) is ungrammatical; pronouns in this form are clitics and have fixed positions relative to the verb.

Could we say πριν να το φάμε instead of πριν το φάμε?

You might hear πριν να το φάμε, but in standard modern Greek, πριν is usually followed directly by the subjunctive without να:

More standard: πριν το φάμε
Less standard / more regional or informal: πριν να το φάμε

For learners, it’s safer and more natural to use:

πριν + (object pronoun) + subjunctive → πριν το φάμε

What is the overall word order here, and could it be changed?

The default word order here is:

Ζεσταίνω (verb)
το φαγητό (direct object)
στον φούρνο (prepositional phrase: where)
πριν το φάμε (time clause: when)

Greek word order is quite flexible, but changes can add emphasis or affect style. For example:

Το φαγητό το ζεσταίνω στον φούρνο πριν το φάμε.
Emphasis on το φαγητό (the food, as opposed to something else).
Στον φούρνο ζεσταίνω το φαγητό πριν το φάμε.
Emphasis on στον φούρνο (in the oven, not in the microwave).

The original order is neutral and very natural.

How would I say this in a more continuous/progressive way, like “I am warming up the food…”?

Modern Greek usually uses the same present tense form for both:

Ζεσταίνω το φαγητό στον φούρνο πριν το φάμε.
= I warm up the food… or I am warming up the food…

Context tells us if it’s a habit (I usually do this) or an action happening now.

If you really want to stress right now, you can add a time expression:

Τώρα ζεσταίνω το φαγητό στον φούρνο. = I’m warming up the food in the oven now.