Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά στο σαλόνι.

to be

Breakdown of Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά στο σαλόνι.

• σε: in
• η μουσική: the music
• το σαλόνι: the living room
• χαμηλά: low

Questions & Answers about Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά στο σαλόνι.

What is the literal, word‑for‑word breakdown of Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά στο σαλόνι?

Here is a simple breakdown:

• Η – the (definite article, feminine, singular, nominative)
• μουσική – music (feminine noun, singular, nominative)
• είναι – is (3rd person singular of είμαι = to be)
• χαμηλά – low / at a low level (adverb: here it means at low volume)
• στο – in the / at the (σε
  • το, i.e. in/at
    • the for neuter singular)
• σαλόνι – living room, lounge (neuter noun, singular)

So the sentence is literally: “The music is low in-the living room.”

Why do we use the article Η before μουσική? In English we often just say music, not the music.

In Greek, the definite article is used much more often than in English, even with abstract or mass nouns like music, love, life.

• Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά.
  → The music is low (the music that is playing now).

Greek tends to use the article:

• when the noun is specific (the particular music that is playing),
• or when we are talking about something in a general, typical way in many contexts.

If you drop the article and say Μουσική είναι ζωή (Music is life), then it sounds more like a very general, slogan‑like statement.

In your sentence, we are clearly talking about specific, currently playing music, so η μουσική (with the article) is the natural choice.

Why is it η μουσική (feminine) and not το μουσική? How do I know the gender?

Every Greek noun has a grammatical gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. You must memorize the gender along with the noun.

• The word μουσική is feminine. Its dictionary form is η μουσική.
• Many, though not all, nouns ending in -η are feminine:
  
  • η πόλη (the city)
  • η νίκη (the victory)
  • η οθόνη (the screen)

Because μουσική is feminine:

• the article must be feminine: η μουσική, not το μουσική;
• any adjectives directly modifying it would also agree in feminine:
  η χαμηλή μουσική (the low music).

You generally learn gender by:

• looking at typical endings (-η, -α often feminine; -ος can be masc./fem.; -ο, -ι, -μα often neuter),
• checking a dictionary (which always shows the article).

Is χαμηλά an adjective or an adverb here? What is the difference between χαμηλά and χαμηλή?

In this sentence, χαμηλά is an adverb.

• χαμηλός / χαμηλή / χαμηλό = low (adjective; masculine / feminine / neuter)
• χαμηλά = low / at a low level (adverb)

Adjective (χαμηλή):

• Describes a noun and agrees with it in gender, number, case.
  
  • η χαμηλή μουσική – the low music
  • χαμηλή ένταση – low volume

Adverb (χαμηλά):

• Describes how something is or happens.
  
  • Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά. – The music is (at a) low (level/volume).
  • Βάλε τη μουσική πιο χαμηλά. – Turn the music down lower.
  • Μιλάει χαμηλά. – He/she speaks quietly.

So in Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά, we’re not saying “the music is a low one” (adjective), but “the music is at a low level (of volume)” (adverb).

Could I also say Η μουσική είναι χαμηλή στο σαλόνι? Would that sound natural?

It is grammatically correct, but it is less typical for talking about volume.

Nuance:

• Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά (στο σαλόνι).
  – Very natural and common to mean the volume is low.

• Η μουσική είναι χαμηλή στο σαλόνι.
  – Grammatically fine, but it sounds more like a descriptive quality of the music, and without extra context it can be slightly unusual.
  – It can also be interpreted as the music is of low (pitch/level/quality) in the living room, rather than clearly about the volume knob.

For everyday speech about volume, people usually prefer:

• Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά.
• Η μουσική παίζει χαμηλά / σιγά. (The music is playing low/quietly.)
• Η ένταση της μουσικής είναι χαμηλή. (The volume of the music is low.)

So you can say χαμηλή, but for a learner it’s safer and more idiomatic here to use χαμηλά.

Does χαμηλά always mean “at low volume”, or can it also mean “down low / downstairs”?

χαμηλά is a general adverb meaning low / at a low level, and the exact meaning depends on context.

1. Volume / intensity

   • Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά. – The music is low (in volume).
   • Μίλα πιο χαμηλά. – Speak more quietly.

2. Height / physical position

   • Το αεροπλάνο πετάει χαμηλά. – The plane is flying low.
   • Κράτα το κεφάλι σου χαμηλά. – Keep your head down/low.

3. Vertical position / lower place

   • Το σπίτι είναι χαμηλά στο βουνό. – The house is low on the mountain.
   • Τα σύννεφα είναι πολύ χαμηλά σήμερα. – The clouds are very low today.

For “downstairs”, Greek usually prefers κάτω:

• Είναι κάτω στο σαλόνι. – He/She is downstairs in the living room.

In some contexts χαμηλά can suggest “in the lower part / lower down”, but for a clear “downstairs”, use κάτω.

What exactly does στο mean here? Is it “in”, “at”, or “to” the living room?

στο is the contraction of:

• σε (preposition: in, at, on, to)
• • το
  (the; neuter, singular)

So στο σαλόνι literally is “in/at the living room”.

The exact English preposition depends on context:

• Location (no movement): usually in or at
  
  • στο σαλόνι → in the living room / down in the living room
• Movement (with verbs of motion): often to
  
  • Πάω στο σαλόνι. → I’m going to the living room.

In your sentence, we are talking about location, not movement, so “in the living room” is the best translation.

Why is it στο σαλόνι and not σε το σαλόνι or στη σαλόνι?

Two things are happening:

1. Contraction of σε + article
   • σε + το → στο (neuter)
   • σε + τον → στον (masculine)
   • σε + τη(ν) → στη(ν) (feminine)

So Greeks almost always say:

• στο σαλόνι (not σε το σαλόνι)
• στο σπίτι (not σε το σπίτι)
• στο δωμάτιο, στο γραφείο, etc.

Writing σε το separately is technically possible only in rare, very emphatic or poetic contexts. In standard speech and writing, you use the contraction.

2. Gender of “σαλόνι”
   • σαλόνι is neuter, so the correct article is το.
   • Therefore: σε + το → στο σαλόνι, not στη σαλόνι (which would be for a feminine noun).

Can I change the word order, for example to Η μουσική στο σαλόνι είναι χαμηλά or Στο σαλόνι η μουσική είναι χαμηλά?

Yes. Greek word order is flexible, and all of these are grammatically correct. The differences are mostly about emphasis:

1. Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά στο σαλόνι.
   – Neutral: The music is low in the living room.

2. Η μουσική στο σαλόνι είναι χαμηλά.
   – Slight emphasis on the living room music (as opposed to music somewhere else):
   The music in the living room is low (maybe elsewhere it’s louder).

3. Στο σαλόνι η μουσική είναι χαμηλά.
   – Emphasis on the place; sounds like:
   As for the living room, the music there is low.

All are acceptable in normal speech; intonation will also affect what feels emphasized.

Are there other common ways to say “the music is low/quiet” in Greek?

Yes, several natural alternatives:

• Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά.
  – Very common: the volume is low.

• Η μουσική παίζει χαμηλά / σιγά.
  – The music is playing low / quietly.

• Η μουσική είναι σιγά.
  – Possible, but παίζει σιγά is more usual.

• Η ένταση της μουσικής είναι χαμηλή.
  – The volume of the music is low. (more explicit, a bit more formal)

• Έχουμε τη μουσική χαμηλά.
  – We have the music low (we keep it low).

For everyday speech, χαμηλά and σιγά are the two key words for “low/quiet” volume.

Is σαλόνι the only word for “living room”? Are there synonyms or regional preferences?

σαλόνι is very common, but there are other words:

• το σαλόνι – living room / lounge

  • Often associated with the main sitting/guest room, sometimes a bit more formal in feel.

• το καθιστικό – living room / sitting room

  • Very common modern word; often used for the everyday family sitting area.

In practice:

• Many speakers use σαλόνι and καθιστικό almost interchangeably.
• Some homes may have only one such room; either word can then be used.

So you can also say:

• Η μουσική είναι χαμηλά στο καθιστικό. – The music is low in the living room.

How do you pronounce μουσική, χαμηλά, and σαλόνι?

Approximate pronunciation with stress marked by ´:

1. μουσική – mu-si-KÍ

   • IPA: /musiˈci/
   • mu as in “moo”, si as in “see”, final -κή stressed.

2. χαμηλά – ha-mi-LÁ

   • IPA: /xamiˈla/
   • χ is like the German ch in Bach, or a strong h from the back of the throat.
   • Stress on the last syllable.

3. σαλόνι – sa-LÓ-ni

   • IPA: /saˈloni/
   • Stress on -λό-.

Remember: in Greek every word has exactly one stressed syllable, shown by the accent mark.