Learn Hardcore Greek: Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα στους γονείς μου.

Greek word order here is very close to English, except for the placement of the negative words (Δεν, ποτέ) and the possessive μου after the noun (γονείς μου = my parents).

Why do we have both δεν and ποτέ? Isn’t that “double negation”?

In Greek, when ποτέ means never, it must appear with a negative particle such as δεν (or μη(ν) in some structures). This is normal and not considered a logical mistake.

Δεν λέω = I do not say
ποτέ (with δεν) = ever → never in translation

So:

Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα.
Literally: I don’t ever tell a lie.
Idiomatic English: I never tell a lie.

This is different from English, where “never” already contains the negation and you would not say I don’t never. Greek is comfortable with this kind of “double” negation; it’s actually required.

Can I also say Ποτέ δεν λέω ψέμα στους γονείς μου? Is there a difference?

Yes, that is correct Greek:

Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα στους γονείς μου.
Ποτέ δεν λέω ψέμα στους γονείς μου.

Both mean I never lie to my parents.

Difference in nuance:

Δεν λέω ποτέ… is neutral, ordinary word order.
Ποτέ δεν λέω… puts ποτέ first for extra emphasis, a bit like saying:
- Never do I tell a lie to my parents.

So Ποτέ δεν… can sound slightly stronger or more emphatic, but grammatically both are fine.

Why is it ψέμα (singular) and not ψέματα (plural), even though in English we say “I never tell lies”?

Greek can use either singular or plural here, and both are common:

Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα. = I never tell a lie.
Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέματα. = I never tell lies.

The meaning is practically the same in this sentence. Some nuances:

ψέμα (singular) can feel a bit more specific or concrete: a lie.
ψέματα (plural) emphasizes lying in general: lies (as a habit).

In everyday speech, λέω ψέματα (I tell lies / I lie) is extremely common, but λέω ψέμα is also perfectly natural.

What is the difference between λέω ψέματα and just saying ψεύδομαι?

Both relate to lying, but they are not used the same way:

λέω ψέματα
- Very common, everyday expression.
- Literally: I say lies → I lie.
- Used all the time in modern spoken Greek.
ψεύδομαι
- A single verb meaning I lie or I tell an untruth.
- Sounds more formal, literary, or old-fashioned in many contexts.
- Rare in casual conversation.

So in normal speech, people usually say:

Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέματα. (most natural)
Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα. (also okay)

and not usually Δεν ψεύδομαι unless they want a more formal tone.

Why is there no article like ένα before ψέμα? Why not Δεν λέω ποτέ ένα ψέμα?

Greek does not always use an indefinite article where English uses a / an.

Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα.
Literally: I don’t ever tell lie.
Natural English: I never tell a lie / I never lie.

You can say:

Δεν λέω ποτέ ένα ψέμα στους γονείς μου.

but this tends to sound more like:

I never tell even one (single) lie to my parents.
(slightly more specific/emphatic, focusing on a single instance)

For general statements about habits or rules (like I never lie), Greek often omits the indefinite article and just uses the bare noun.

What exactly is στους in στους γονείς μου, and why not σε τους γονείς μου?

στους is a contracted form:

σε (to / at / in) + τους (the, masculine plural accusative)
→ στους

Greek regularly fuses σε + definite article:

σε + τον → στον
σε + τη(ν) → στη(ν)
σε + το → στο
σε + τους → στους
σε + τις → στις

So στους γονείς μου literally means to the parents my → to my parents.

You would not say σε τους γονείς μου in standard modern Greek; the contracted form στους is the normal one.

What case is γονείς in here, and how is it affected by στους?

In στους γονείς μου, the noun γονείς is in the accusative plural.

γονέας (rare, singular, formal) → parent
γονείς (common, plural, nominative) → parents
γονείς also appears as accusative plural (same form: nominative = accusative)

Because of σε / στους (“to”), the expression has an indirect object meaning:

στους γονείς μου → to my parents

So στους (σε + τους) governs the accusative:

στο παιδί → to the child (accusative singular)
στους γονείς → to the parents (accusative plural)

Even though the nominative plural is also γονείς, its function here is object of the preposition.

Why does μου come after γονείς? Can I say μου γονείς instead?

In Greek, the weak possessive pronouns (μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους) generally follow the noun:

οι γονείς μου = my parents
το σπίτι σου = your house
ο φίλος μας = our friend

So:

στους γονείς μου = to my parents

Putting μου before the noun (μου γονείς) is not correct in standard modern Greek and would sound wrong.

If you want to emphasize the possessor, you can use a strong pronoun plus the regular pattern, for example:

οι δικοί μου γονείς = my own parents

But even there, the weak possessive μου still comes after δικοί (the agreeing adjective), not before γονείς.

What tense/aspect is λέω here, and how would I say “I didn’t tell a lie” or “I have never lied”?

λέω is:

Present tense,
1st person singular,
Imperfective aspect (ongoing / habitual action).

In this sentence, it expresses a general habit or rule:

Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα. = I never lie / I never tell a lie.

For past actions:

I didn’t tell a lie (on one occasion):
→ Use the aorist (simple past) of λέω: είπα
- Δεν είπα ψέμα. = I didn’t tell a lie.
I have never lied (in my life):
Greek usually uses the aorist in a similar way, plus ποτέ:
- Δεν είπα ποτέ ψέμα. = I have never told a lie / I never told a lie (ever).

For the general present perfect idea “I have never lied (up to now)”, Δεν είπα ποτέ ψέμα is the usual pattern.

Is there a difference in meaning between Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα στους γονείς μου and Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέματα στους γονείς μου?

Both are correct and very close in meaning:

Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα στους γονείς μου.
→ I never tell a lie to my parents.
Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέματα στους γονείς μου.
→ I never tell lies to my parents. / I never lie to my parents.

Nuance:

ψέμα (singular): Slight focus on each individual lie (a single lie).
ψέματα (plural): More clearly describes the general habit of lying.

In everyday usage, Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέματα στους γονείς μου is probably more common, because λέω ψέματα is the standard way to say I lie.

How do you pronounce Δεν λέω ποτέ ψέμα στους γονείς μου, and where is the stress?

Syllable breakdown with stress (accented syllables in caps):

Δεν → /ðen/
λέω → /ˈleo/ (one stressed syllable: ΛΕω)
ποτέ → /poˈte/ (stress on τε)
ψέμα → /ˈpse.ma/ (stress on ψέ)
στους → /stus/
γονείς → /ɣoˈnis/ (stress on νείς)
μου → /mu/

Full pronunciation (roughly):
ðen ˈleo poˈte ˈpse.ma stus ɣoˈnis mu

Stressed words: ΛΕω, ποΤΕ, ΨΕμα, γοΝΕΙΣ.
Function words like Δεν, στους, μου are usually unstressed in the flow of speech.