Breakdown of Η φίλη μου έχει σκύλο που φοβάται τη βροχή.
έχω
to have
η φίλη
the female friend
μου
my
ο σκύλος
the dog
Questions & Answers about Η φίλη μου έχει σκύλο που φοβάται τη βροχή.
What does each word in Η φίλη μου έχει σκύλο που φοβάται τη βροχή literally correspond to in English?
Word by word:
- Η – the (feminine, singular, nominative)
- φίλη – friend (female friend)
- μου – my (literally of me)
- έχει – has
- σκύλο – dog (here: a dog, direct object form)
- που – who/that (introduces a relative clause)
- φοβάται – is afraid (literally fears, but used like to be afraid)
- τη – the (feminine, singular, accusative)
- βροχή – rain
So structurally it’s like: “The friend my has dog who is-afraid (of) the rain.”
Why do we need Η before φίλη μου? In English we just say “my friend” without “the”.
In Greek, when you combine a noun with a possessive pronoun (μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους), you almost always use the definite article in front:
- η φίλη μου – my (female) friend
- ο φίλος μου – my (male) friend
- το σπίτι μου – my house
So Η φίλη μου is the normal, grammatically complete way to say “my friend (female)”. Leaving out the article (φίλη μου) is possible but sounds more colloquial / emotional / stylistic and not the neutral default.
Why is μου after φίλη instead of before, like in English “my friend”?