Όποτε έρχεται η χορτοφάγος φίλη μου, φτιάχνω υγιεινή σαλάτα χωρίς κρέας.

Whenever my vegetarian friend comes, I make a healthy salad without meat.

Breakdown of Όποτε έρχεται η χορτοφάγος φίλη μου, φτιάχνω υγιεινή σαλάτα χωρίς κρέας.

• η φίλη: the female friend
• μου: my
• έρχομαι: to come
• χωρίς: without

Questions & Answers about Όποτε έρχεται η χορτοφάγος φίλη μου, φτιάχνω υγιεινή σαλάτα χωρίς κρέας.

What is the difference between όποτε and όταν here?

Both can be translated as when, but they are not identical.

• όποτε means whenever / any time that. It clearly suggests a repeated or open‑ended situation:

  • Όποτε έρχεται... = Whenever she comes (every time she happens to come)...

• όταν is more neutral when. It can refer to:

  • a specific time: Όταν έρθει, θα φύγουμε. – When she comes, we’ll leave.
  • or a general/habitual situation, like English when(ever):
    • Όταν έρχεται η φίλη μου, φτιάχνω σαλάτα.

In this sentence, όποτε makes the habitual/repeated idea very explicit. With όταν, the meaning would still be clear from context, but όποτε is the most natural if you want to stress “every time she comes”.

Why are the verbs έρχεται and φτιάχνω in the present tense if this describes a habit?

In Greek, the present tense (imperfective aspect) is used both for:

• actions happening now
• and regular / habitual actions

So:

• Όποτε έρχεται η χορτοφάγος φίλη μου...
  literally: Whenever my vegetarian friend comes... (i.e. every time she comes)
• ...φτιάχνω υγιεινή σαλάτα...
  I make a healthy salad... (as a regular habit)

Greek doesn’t distinguish “I make” vs “I am making” the way English does. The same present form φτιάχνω covers both.