Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα, νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή.

When I go to another country, I feel like a stranger at first.

Breakdown of Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα, νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή.

• πάω: to go
• σε: to
• όταν: when
• η χώρα: the country
• νιώθω: to feel
• άλλος: other
• στην αρχή: at first
• ξένος: foreign

Questions & Answers about Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα, νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή.

Why does the sentence start with Όταν? Is it the same as saying αν ("if")?

Όταν means when in the sense of whenever / every time that and introduces a time clause.
Αν means if and introduces a condition.

• Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα, νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή.
  = When(ever) I go to another country, I feel like a stranger at first.

If you used αν, it would sound like if I go to another country, which suggests a possibility, not a regular, repeated situation.

Why is it πηγαίνω (present) and not θα πάω (future), since in English we often say “When I go / when I will go”?

Greek normally uses the present tense in Όταν-clauses to express general or repeated situations, even if in English we sometimes think of them as future.

• Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα = Whenever I go to another country (a general habit).
  Using θα πάω would point to one specific future occasion instead:
• Όταν θα πάω σε άλλη χώρα… is possible but sounds more like talking about a particular future trip and is less common in everyday speech than simply Όταν πάω… or Όταν πηγαίνω….

What is the difference between πηγαίνω and πάω? Could I say Όταν πάω σε άλλη χώρα?

Both πηγαίνω and πάω mean to go.

• πηγαίνω: more clearly imperfective; it emphasizes the ongoing or repeated action (I go / I am going, habitually).
• πάω: perfective; it focuses more on the single event (I go / I will go on that occasion).

In this sentence, you can say either:

• Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα… (more strongly habitual / every time)
• Όταν πάω σε άλλη χώρα… (a bit more neutral; often also used for general cases)

Both are grammatically correct and natural; the nuance is subtle.

Why is there no word for “I” in the Greek sentence? Where is “I”?

Greek verbs include the subject in their ending, so the pronoun is usually dropped.

• πηγαίνω already means I go.
• νιώθω already means I feel.

You can add εγώ for emphasis:

• Όταν εγώ πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα, εγώ νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή,
  but in normal speech it would sound overly emphatic or even a bit heavy.

Why is it σε άλλη χώρα and not σε μια άλλη χώρα like “to another country”?

Greek often omits the indefinite article (ένας / μια / ένα) when talking in a general way.

• σε άλλη χώρα = to another country (any other country) – general statement.
• σε μια άλλη χώρα = to another (one) country – it’s still correct, but it can sound a bit more specific: one particular “other” country.

In a general “whenever I go abroad” type of sentence, σε άλλη χώρα is more natural.

Why is it άλλη χώρα and not άλλο χώρα or άλλος χώρα?

Because χώρα (country) is a feminine noun.

The basic forms of the adjective άλλος (other / another) are:

• masculine: άλλος
• feminine: άλλη
• neuter: άλλο

Since η χώρα is feminine, the adjective must agree: άλλη χώρα.

What does νιώθω mean exactly? Is it the same as αισθάνομαι?

νιώθω means I feel (emotionally or physically).
αισθάνομαι also means I feel and is very similar.

In many cases they are interchangeable:

• νιώθω ξένος
• αισθάνομαι ξένος

Both are correct and natural here. νιώθω is a bit shorter and very common in everyday speech.

Why is it νιώθω ξένος and not something like “νιώθω σαν ξένος” (I feel like a stranger)?

Both are possible:

• νιώθω ξένος literally means I feel (as) a stranger. The adjective ξένος describes me directly.
• νιώθω σαν ξένος means I feel like a stranger, with σαν explicitly marking the comparison.

In Greek, it’s very natural to use an adjective directly after νιώθω or αισθάνομαι, without σαν:

• νιώθω κουρασμένος – I feel tired
• νιώθω χαρούμενος – I feel happy

So νιώθω ξένος is simple and idiomatic.

If a woman is speaking, should she still say νιώθω ξένος, or should it change?

It should change to agree with the speaker’s gender.

• A man: νιώθω ξένος
• A woman: νιώθω ξένη

The adjective ξένος / ξένη / ξένο must agree in gender (and number, and case) with the person who feels that way, even though the subject pronoun (εγώ) is not written.

Does ξένος mean “stranger” or “foreigner” here?

ξένος can mean both stranger and foreigner, depending on context.

In this sentence, it has a mixed sense of:

• not belonging,
• not being familiar with the place or people.

So νιώθω ξένος is best understood as I feel like a stranger / I feel foreign / I feel out of place.

Why is it στην αρχή and not στο αρχή or just αρχή?

αρχή is a feminine noun: η αρχή (the beginning).
σε + την αρχή contracts to στην αρχή:

• σε την αρχή → στην αρχή

You say:

• στην αρχή = at the beginning / at first

If it were a neuter noun (e.g. το σπίτι), you would use στο:

• σε + το σπίτι → στο σπίτι

Is στην αρχή exactly the same as English “at first”?

It’s very close.

• στην αρχή literally means at the beginning.
  Used with feelings or situations, it corresponds well to English “at first / in the beginning”:
• Νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή, αλλά μετά συνηθίζω.
  = I feel like a stranger at first, but then I get used to it.

Can I change the word order, e.g. Στην αρχή νιώθω ξένος όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα?

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible. You can say:

• Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα, νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή.
• Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα, στην αρχή νιώθω ξένος.
• Στην αρχή νιώθω ξένος, όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα.

They all are understandable and grammatical. The standard, most neutral version is the original one; moving στην αρχή or the Όταν-clause just changes what you emphasize slightly.

Is the comma after χώρα required in Greek?

Yes, it’s normal (and recommended) to put a comma between a subordinate clause with Όταν and the main clause:

• Όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα, νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή.

If you reverse the order, you normally don’t use a comma:

• Νιώθω ξένος στην αρχή όταν πηγαίνω σε άλλη χώρα.