Learn Hardcore Greek: Για εμένα ο αληθινός φίλος δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα.

εγώ is the subject (nominative) form: I.
εμένα is the stressed object (accusative) form, used:
- after prepositions like για, σε, από
- when you want to emphasize the person.

So after για, you must use εμένα, not εγώ:
✅ για εμένα / για μένα
❌ για εγώ

I often see για μένα instead of για εμένα. What is the difference?

Both are correct and mean the same thing: for me, in my view.

για εμένα
- slightly more formal or emphatic
- clearly stressed form
για μένα
- very common in everyday speech
- a shortened, slightly more casual form

In most contexts you can freely use either:
Για μένα/εμένα ο αληθινός φίλος…

Why is there a definite article ο in ο αληθινός φίλος, when English says a true friend?

Greek often uses the definite article ο/η/το when talking about things in general, including types of people:

Ο άνθρωπος είναι θνητός. = Humans are mortal.
Ο σκύλος είναι πιστό ζώο. = Dogs are faithful animals.

Here:

ο αληθινός φίλος literally: the true friend
but in meaning: a true friend / a real friend (as a type of person)

If you said ένας αληθινός φίλος, that would mean one (particular) true friend rather than the general idea of what a true friend is.

How do αληθινός and φίλος work together grammatically in ο αληθινός φίλος?

In Greek, adjectives normally come before the noun and must agree with it in:

gender
number
case

Here:

ο αληθινός φίλος
- ο (masculine, singular, nominative)
- αληθινός (masculine, singular, nominative)
- φίλος (masculine, singular, nominative)

All three match, because φίλος is masculine, singular, nominative and it is the subject of the sentence.

Other forms would be:

η αληθινή φίλη – a true (female) friend
το αληθινό παιδί – the true/genuine child

Why is the verb λέει and not λέω or something else?

The verb is λέω (to say, to tell). Its present tense forms are:

εγώ λέω – I say
εσύ λες – you say
αυτός/αυτή/αυτό λέει – he/she/it says
εμείς λέμε – we say
εσείς λέτε – you (pl/formal) say
αυτοί λένε – they say

In the sentence:

ο αληθινός φίλος is the subject = a true friend = he (in English)
so we need the third person singular: λέει = says / tells

You may also see a more formal/older form λέγει in written or very formal Greek, but λέει is standard in modern spoken Greek.

Why do we put δεν before λέει? Could it go somewhere else?

δεν is the standard negation particle used with verbs in the indicative mood. It normally comes directly before the verb:

λέει – he/she/it says
δεν λέει – he/she/it does not say / does not tell

So:

✅ δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα
❌ λέει δεν ποτέ ψέματα (wrong order)

With compound tenses, δεν still comes before the auxiliary:

δεν θα πει – he will not say
δεν έχει πει – he has not said

Note: Greek uses μη(ν) instead of δεν in other contexts (subjunctive, negative commands, etc.), but here the normal present indicative uses δεν.

What exactly does ποτέ mean here, and why is it used with δεν?

ποτέ means:

never in negative sentences
ever in questions or certain other contexts

In negative sentences, it must be used together with a negation like δεν:

δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα = he never tells lies
(literally: he does not tell lies ever)

Typical patterns:

Δεν πηγαίνω ποτέ εκεί. – I never go there.
Πηγαίνεις ποτέ σινεμά; – Do you ever go to the cinema?

The word order can be:

δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα
ποτέ δεν λέει ψέματα

Both mean never tells lies. The sentence you have uses the first order.

Why is ψέματα in the plural? Could we say ψέμα instead?

ψέμα = a lie (singular, neuter)
ψέματα = lies (plural, neuter)

In Greek, the idiomatic expression for to lie is:

λέω ψέματα – literally I say lies = I lie

So:

δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα = he/she never lies
(literally: never says lies)

You can also use the singular with an article if you mean one specific lie:

μου είπε ένα ψέμα – he/she told me a lie
αυτό είναι ψέμα – this is a lie

But after λέω, the plural ψέματα is the normal phrase for the general act of lying.

Could we change the word order, for example put Για εμένα later in the sentence?

Yes. Greek word order is quite flexible, and moving Για εμένα mainly affects emphasis, not grammar.

Some possible variants:

Για εμένα ο αληθινός φίλος δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα.
Emphasis on for me / in my view (contrast with what others may think).
Ο αληθινός φίλος, για εμένα, δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα.
Similar meaning, with για εμένα inserted as a clarifying phrase.
Ο αληθινός φίλος δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα, για εμένα.
Sounds a bit more like an afterthought: … at least in my opinion.

All of these are understandable. The original order foregrounds the personal viewpoint from the start.

Why is it για εμένα and not something like σε εμένα or using μου?

Different prepositions express different relations:

για εμένα = for me, in my opinion, as far as I’m concerned
σε εμένα = to me, at me (direction or indirect object)
- e.g. δώσε το σε εμένα – give it to me

And about the pronoun form:

After prepositions like για, σε, από, με, Greek uses the strong forms:
- για εμένα, σε εσένα, από αυτόν, etc.
The weak forms (μου, σου, του, etc.) do not normally follow prepositions:
- ❌ για μου (not standard)
- ✅ για εμένα / για μένα

So:

Για εμένα here means in my view, which is why για is used, not σε, and why we use εμένα, not μου.

Could we say πραγματικός φίλος instead of αληθινός φίλος? Is there a difference?

Both are possible and close in meaning, but there is a slight nuance:

αληθινός φίλος
- literally: true, genuine friend
- often emphasizes sincerity, loyalty, emotional truth
πραγματικός φίλος
- literally: real, actual friend
- can emphasize that someone really qualifies as a friend (not just an acquaintance or someone pretending)

In many contexts they are interchangeable, and both could fit in this sentence:

Για εμένα ο αληθινός φίλος δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα.
Για εμένα ο πραγματικός φίλος δεν λέει ποτέ ψέματα.

The original choice αληθινός φίλος sounds very natural and slightly more “emotional” or value-based.