Learn Hardcore Greek: Τώρα πηγαίνω στη δουλειά με το τραμ και αλλάζω γραμμή στη στάση κοντά στην πλατεία. - Now I go to work by tram and change line at the stop near the square.

“Right now” / at this moment:
Τώρα πηγαίνω στη δουλειά… = I am going to work now.
“Nowadays / these days / currently as a habit”:
Τώρα πηγαίνω στη δουλειά με το τραμ… can also mean Nowadays I go to work by tram (i.e. this is my current routine, as opposed to before).

Context decides which one is meant. In isolation, many learners translate it as Right now I am going, but in everyday speech τώρα very often means nowadays / currently when followed by a habitual action.

Why do we say πηγαίνω here and not πάω? Are they different?

Both verbs mean to go:

πηγαίνω – slightly more “complete” form, common in both spoken and written Greek.
πάω – shorter, very common in speech, especially in the present.

In this sentence both are possible and natural:

Τώρα πηγαίνω στη δουλειά…
Τώρα πάω στη δουλειά…

Meaning is the same. Πηγαίνω can sound just a bit more neutral/formal, πάω a bit more colloquial, but the difference is small.

What exactly is στη in στη δουλειά? Why not σε τη δουλειά?

Στη is a contraction of the preposition σε (to, at, in) and the feminine article τη (the):

σε + τη → στη
σε + την → στην

So grammatically, στη δουλειά = σε τη δουλειά = to the job / to work, but in real Greek we always use the contracted form στη or στην, not the full σε τη.

Why is it στη δουλειά but στην πλατεία? When do we use στη versus στην?

Both στη and στην come from σε την. The final -ν is sometimes kept, sometimes dropped, according to pronunciation rules.

We keep -ν before:
- vowels: στην Ελλάδα, στην Αθήνα
- certain consonants: κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ
  e.g. στην πλατεία, στην πόλη, στην τάξη
We usually drop -ν before other consonants:
- e.g. στη δουλειά, στη στάση, στη γέφυρα

So:

στη δουλειά (δ is not in that list)
στη στάση (σ also not in that list)
στην πλατεία (π is in the list, so we keep the -ν)

In speech you’ll hear some variation, but these are the standard rules.

What does δουλειά mean exactly? Is it “work” or “job”? And how is it different from εργασία?

Δουλειά is a very common, everyday word that can mean:

work in general:
Έχω πολλή δουλειά. = I have a lot of work.
job / employment:
Πηγαίνω στη δουλειά. = I’m going to work / to my job.

Εργασία is more formal/literary and is used in:

official contexts: χώρος εργασίας (workplace), άδεια εργασίας (work permit)
academic contexts: γραπτή εργασία (written assignment)

In this casual sentence, δουλειά is the natural choice.

Note also the spelling and stress:

δουλειά (work) – stress on the last syllable.
δουλεία (slavery) – different vowels and stress; completely different meaning.

Why do we say με το τραμ for “by tram”? Could we leave out το or use another preposition?

The preposition με here means by / with (as a means of transport):

με το τραμ = by tram
με το λεωφορείο = by bus
με το αυτοκίνητο = by car

In Greek it is normal and natural to use the definite article with means of transport:

Πηγαίνω στη δουλειά με το τραμ.
Πηγαίνω στο σχολείο με το λεωφορείο.

Leaving the article out (με τραμ) is possible but sounds more telegram‑like or stylistic; in everyday speech, με το τραμ is standard.

We do not use another preposition like English by → Greek με, not από, σε, etc., when talking about the means of transport.

Is τραμ a Greek word? Why is it το τραμ and does it change form?

Τραμ is a loanword (from French tramway via other European languages).

It is treated as neuter: το τραμ.
It is indeclinable: the form stays τραμ in all cases:
- Nominative: το τραμ
- Accusative: βλέπω το τραμ
- Genitive (rare in speech): του τραμ

So you don’t have to worry about changing its ending.

What does αλλάζω γραμμή literally mean, and is it a fixed expression?

Literally:

αλλάζω = I change
γραμμή = line

So αλλάζω γραμμή = I change line.

In the context of transport, it’s a fixed, natural expression meaning:

change to another tram/bus/metro line,
like English change lines or transfer.

Example:

Στο Σύνταγμα αλλάζω γραμμή και παίρνω το μετρό.
At Syntagma I change lines and take the metro.

Outside transport, αλλάζω γραμμή can also be figurative: change my stance / policy / approach, but here it’s clearly about the tram network.

Why is it στη στάση and not στην στάση? And what exactly does στάση mean here?

στη vs στην
As mentioned earlier, the -ν is usually dropped before consonants like σ, so:
- στη στάση is the standard form.
- στην στάση may be heard but sounds less standard; many speakers would naturally say στη στάση.
στάση
Στάση has several meanings, but here it means stop in the public transport sense:
- στάση λεωφορείου = bus stop
- στάση τραμ = tram stop
- στη στάση κοντά στην πλατεία = at the stop near the square

So it does not mean “stance” here (that would be another figurative meaning); it’s literally the physical place where the tram stops.

What is the difference between στάση and σταθμός?

Both relate to transport, but:

στάση = stop, usually smaller, where vehicles briefly stop:
- στάση λεωφορείου (bus stop)
- στάση τραμ (tram stop)
σταθμός = station, usually larger, often terminal or hub:
- σιδηροδρομικός σταθμός (train station)
- σταθμός μετρό (metro station)
- σταθμός Λαρίσης (Larissa Station in Athens)

In the given sentence στάση is correct because we’re talking about a tram stop, not a big station.

Why is it κοντά στην πλατεία but not κοντά σε πλατεία? Does Greek always use the article like this?

Article choice

κοντά στην πλατεία = near the square (a specific, known square)
κοντά σε πλατεία = near a square (some square, not specified)

In everyday speech, when you have a particular place in mind (the usual square on your route), Greek normally uses the definite article: στην πλατεία.

στην vs στη

Here we use στην because π (in πλατεία) is one of the consonants that keep the final -ν (see earlier list).

So κοντά στην πλατεία is exactly parallel to English near the square, but in Greek the definite article is used even more widely than in English.

What cases are used for δουλειά, γραμμή, στάση, πλατεία in this sentence, and why?

All these nouns appear in the accusative singular feminine, because:

The preposition σε (contracted to στη / στην) takes the accusative:
- στη δουλειά (to work)
- στη στάση (at the stop)
- στην πλατεία (at the square)
The direct object of the verb αλλάζω is also in the accusative:
- αλλάζω γραμμή (I change line)

Forms:

Nominative: η δουλειά, η γραμμή, η στάση, η πλατεία
Accusative: τη δουλειά, τη γραμμή, τη στάση, την πλατεία

In the sentence you see the accusative forms (after σε or as object).

Can we change the word order, e.g. say Τώρα με το τραμ πηγαίνω στη δουλειά? Does that sound natural?

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible. All of these are grammatical; they just shift emphasis:

Τώρα πηγαίνω στη δουλειά με το τραμ…
Neutral: focus on the action going to work, then how.
Τώρα με το τραμ πηγαίνω στη δουλειά…
Slight emphasis on με το τραμ (by tram), contrasting perhaps with another way you used to go.
Στη δουλειά πηγαίνω τώρα με το τραμ…
Stronger emphasis on to work as the destination that you now reach by tram.

The original order is the most straightforward and typical for a learner to copy.