Learn Hardcore Greek: Χωρίς σεβασμό η διαφωνία γίνεται καβγάς, ενώ με συμβιβασμό μένουμε φίλοι. - Without respect the disagreement becomes a fight, whereas with compromise we remain friends.

χωρίς σεβασμό = without respect (σεβασμό = accusative singular)
You could also have: χωρίς νερό, χωρίς φαγητό, χωρίς εμένα (all accusative).

Most common prepositions in Modern Greek (like με, για, σε, χωρίς) are followed by the accusative.

Why do we say χωρίς σεβασμό and με συμβιβασμό without an article, but η διαφωνία with an article?

This is a mix of two different tendencies:

Abstract/unquantified concepts used generally often appear without an article:
- χωρίς σεβασμό = without respect (in general)
- με συμβιβασμό = with compromise (in general, by compromising)
  We are not talking about one specific act of respect or one specific compromise, but about the idea or quality.
Subjects are very often definite in Greek, so they usually take the definite article:
- η διαφωνία = the disagreement (the specific disagreement we’re talking about in this sentence).

So:

χωρίς σεβασμό / με συμβιβασμό → general qualities, no article.
η διαφωνία → concrete subject in this sentence, with article.

You could say η διαφωνία χωρίς σεβασμό (same idea) or ο συμβιβασμός when you mean a specific compromise.

Could I say χωρίς τον σεβασμό or με τον συμβιβασμό? Would that be wrong?

It’s not wrong, but the nuance changes:

χωρίς σεβασμό = without respect (as a general principle).
χωρίς τον σεβασμό usually sounds more specific:
- e.g. χωρίς τον σεβασμό των άλλων = without the respect of others.

Similarly:

με συμβιβασμό = with compromise / by compromising (in general).
με τον συμβιβασμό sounds like a particular compromise:
- e.g. με τον συμβιβασμό που κάναμε = with the compromise that we made.

In your sentence, the intention is general, so χωρίς σεβασμό and με συμβιβασμό (without article) are the most natural.

Why does η διαφωνία have the article, but σεβασμό and συμβιβασμό don’t?

Η διαφωνία is the subject of the sentence and refers to a concrete situation: the disagreement we’re talking about. In Greek, specific, “known” subjects almost always take the definite article.

Σεβασμό and συμβιβασμό are used in a more abstract / generic way, expressing “the presence or absence of a quality,” so no article is needed.

Compare:

Η διαφωνία χωρίς σεβασμό γίνεται καβγάς.
The disagreement without respect becomes a fight.
Μια διαφωνία χωρίς σεβασμό…
A disagreement without respect… (here you might choose μια instead of η if you want “a/an”.)

What is happening grammatically in η διαφωνία γίνεται καβγάς? Why καβγάς and not καβγά?

The verb γίνομαι can mean “to become”.
In Greek, when something “becomes” something else, that “something else” is a predicate noun and takes the nominative case, agreeing with the subject.

Subject: η διαφωνία (nominative singular feminine)
Verb: γίνεται (3rd person singular of γίνομαι)
Predicate noun: καβγάς (nominative singular masculine)

So:

η διαφωνία γίνεται καβγάς = the disagreement becomes a fight.

Καβγάς is nominative. Καβγά is the accusative (e.g. κάνω καβγά = I have a fight). Here we need nominative, so καβγάς is correct.

What is the difference in meaning between διαφωνία, καβγάς, and τσακωμός?

Roughly:

η διαφωνία = disagreement
Neutral word. It can be calm and respectful; it just means people have different opinions.
ο καβγάς = fight, quarrel, row
More emotional, often loud. Can be verbal but heated.
ο τσακωμός = fight, falling-out
Also emotional; often used for more serious conflict or when people “fall out” and may stop talking for a while.

So the sentence is saying: if there is no respect, a simple διαφωνία escalates into a καβγάς.

What exactly does ενώ mean here, and how is it used?

Ενώ is a conjunction. Its main uses:

“While” / “whereas” (contrast between two situations) – this is the use in your sentence:
- Χωρίς σεβασμό… ενώ με συμβιβασμό…
- Without respect…, whereas with compromise…
“While” (at the same time), for simultaneity:
- Εγώ μαγειρεύω, ενώ αυτός διαβάζει.
  I cook while he studies.

In your sentence, ενώ introduces a contrasting result:

First part: disagreement + no respect → becomes a fight.
Second part (με ενώ): there is compromise → we stay friends.

You can place ενώ at the beginning of the second clause, as here, or at the beginning of the whole sentence:

Ενώ με συμβιβασμό μένουμε φίλοι, χωρίς σεβασμό η διαφωνία γίνεται καβγάς.
Same meaning, just different emphasis.

Why is there a comma before ενώ?

The comma separates the sentence into two main clauses:

Χωρίς σεβασμό η διαφωνία γίνεται καβγάς,
ενώ με συμβιβασμό μένουμε φίλοι.

Ενώ introduces the second clause, which contrasts with the first, so the comma is both grammatically and stylistically normal in Greek.

In general, when ενώ links two full clauses that are a bit longer or clearly contrasted, you normally use a comma before it.

What is the role of με in με συμβιβασμό μένουμε φίλοι? Is it like English “with,” or something like “by doing X”?

Με literally means “with” and takes the accusative.

Here, με συμβιβασμό has a more instrumental or manner meaning:

με συμβιβασμό μένουμε φίλοι
= with compromise we stay friends
= by compromising, we stay friends.

So με + noun can mean:

accompaniment: με τον φίλο μου = with my friend
means/manner: με υπομονή, με προσπάθεια, με συμβιβασμό
(with patience, with effort, with compromise → by being patient, by trying, by compromising).

Why is it μένουμε φίλοι and not μένουμε φίλους?

Μένουμε (“we stay / remain”) works like English “be / remain”.
In Greek, with verbs like είμαι (to be), γίνομαι (to become), μένω (to stay/remain), the complement of the subject is in the nominative, not the accusative.

Subject (implied): εμείς (we) → nominative.
Verb: μένουμε.
Predicate noun: φίλοι (friends) → nominative plural.

So:

μένουμε φίλοι = we remain friends (both in nominative).
μένουμε φίλους would be ungrammatical here.

The same happens with:

Είμαστε φίλοι. = We are friends.
Μείναμε φίλοι. = We stayed friends.

Can μένω also mean “live (somewhere)”? Is it the same verb as in μένουμε φίλοι?

Yes, it is the same verb, μένω.

It has two common meanings:

To live / reside:
- Μένω στην Αθήνα. = I live in Athens.
To stay / remain / be left:
- Μένουμε φίλοι. = We stay friends.
- Μένω σπίτι. = I stay at home.
- Τι μένει να κάνουμε; = What is left for us to do?

In your sentence it clearly has the “remain” meaning: μένουμε φίλοι = we remain friends.

Is the word order fixed, or could I move parts around? For example, can I say Η διαφωνία χωρίς σεβασμό γίνεται καβγάς?

Greek word order is relatively flexible, especially for adverbial phrases like χωρίς σεβασμό and με συμβιβασμό. All of these are possible and natural, with only slight changes in emphasis:

Χωρίς σεβασμό η διαφωνία γίνεται καβγάς.
(Strong focus on “without respect”.)
Η διαφωνία χωρίς σεβασμό γίνεται καβγάς.
(Keeps “disagreement” first; still clear.)
Η διαφωνία γίνεται καβγάς χωρίς σεβασμό.
(Places the focus more at the end.)

Similarly for the second part:

Ενώ με συμβιβασμό μένουμε φίλοι.
Ενώ μένουμε φίλοι με συμβιβασμό.

All are grammatically correct; the original order is simply stylistically neat and balanced: χωρίς X …, ενώ με Y ….

How do you pronounce the words in this sentence?

Approximate pronunciation (stress marked with bold syllable, using rough English-like spelling):

Χωρίς → kho-RIS (the “kh” is like a harsh “h” in Scottish “loch”)
σεβασμό → se-vas-MO
η διαφωνία → ee thia-fo-NEE-a
(the δ is like “th” in “this”)
γίνεται → YEE-ne-te
(γ before ι/ε sounds like a soft “y” + voiced “h”)
καβγάς → kav-GHAS
(γ before α is like a voiced “gh” in the back of the throat)
ενώ → e-NO
με συμβιβασμό → me seem-vee-vas-MO
μένουμε → ME-nu-me
φίλοι → FEE-lee

The important part for learners is to hit the correct stressed syllable; Greek stress is phonemic and can change meaning.