Όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό, νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση.

When I speak Greek without a dictionary, I feel more self-confidence.

Breakdown of Όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό, νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση.

• μιλάω: to speak
• ελληνικά: in Greek
• όταν: when
• χωρίς: without
• το λεξικό: the dictionary
• νιώθω: to feel
• περισσότερος: more
• η αυτοπεποίθηση: the self-confidence

Questions & Answers about Όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό, νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση.

What exactly does Όταν mean here? Is it when or whenever?

Όταν means when, but in the present tense it usually has a habitual / general meaning, so it is very close to whenever in English.

• Όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό…
  → When / Whenever I speak Greek without a dictionary…

If you want to stress the every time idea, you can also say:

• Κάθε φορά που μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό…
  → Every time (that) I speak Greek without a dictionary…

Why is there no εγώ for I? How do we know who the subject is?

Greek usually drops subject pronouns (pro-drop language) because the verb ending shows the subject.

• μιλάω = I speak
• μιλάς = you speak (singular)
• μιλάει / μιλά = he/she/it speaks

So μιλάω already tells us I am the subject.
You would add εγώ only for emphasis or contrast:

• Εγώ μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό.
  → I (as opposed to someone else) speak Greek without a dictionary.

Why is it μιλάω and not μιλώ? Are both correct?

Both μιλάω and μιλώ are correct present-tense forms of the same verb:

• μιλάω – more colloquial, very common in everyday speech
• μιλώ – a bit shorter and slightly more formal/literary in feel

They mean the same thing (I speak / I am speaking) and you can freely replace one with the other:

• Όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό…
• Όταν μιλώ ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό…

In modern spoken Greek, you will probably hear μιλάω more often.

Why is ελληνικά used, not ελληνική? What is going on with the form of Greek here?

Languages in Greek are normally used in the neuter plural accusative to express “in X language”:

• μιλάω ελληνικά = I speak Greek (lit. I speak Greek-things)
• μιλάω αγγλικά = I speak English
• μιλάω γαλλικά = I speak French

So:

• η ελληνική γλώσσα = the Greek language (feminine singular)
• ελληνικά = Greek (as a language, in the usual “I speak Greek” pattern)

Saying μιλάω ελληνική would be wrong in this context.

Is ελληνικά the direct object of μιλάω, or does it work more like “in Greek”?

Formally, ελληνικά is in the accusative and behaves like a direct object of μιλάω:

• Τι μιλάς; – Ελληνικά.
  What do you speak? – Greek.

Functionally, though, it is very close to an adverbial meaning “in Greek”:

• Μιλάω ελληνικά ≈ I speak in Greek

So grammars will usually call it an object, but in meaning it plays the role that “in Greek” plays in English.

Why is there no article before λεξικό? Why not το λεξικό?

Greek often omits the article when talking about something in a general / non-specific way, similar to English a / any.

• χωρίς λεξικό
  → without a dictionary / without any dictionary (in general)

If you say:

• χωρίς το λεξικό
  this usually refers to a specific dictionary that both speakers know about:
  → without the dictionary

So in your sentence, χωρίς λεξικό sounds like “without using any dictionary”, which fits the general statement about confidence.

What case is λεξικό in, and why?

λεξικό is in the accusative singular neuter.

Two reasons:

1. Preposition: The preposition χωρίς (without) is always followed by the accusative:

   • χωρίς λεξικό – without a dictionary
   • χωρίς νερό – without water
   • χωρίς εμένα – without me

2. Form: For a neuter noun like το λεξικό, the nominative and accusative singular are identical in form (λεξικό), but here it is accusative because of χωρίς.

What is the difference between νιώθω and αισθάνομαι?

Both can mean to feel, and in many cases they are interchangeable:

• Νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση.
• Αισθάνομαι περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση.
  → I feel more confident.

Some nuances:

• νιώθω

  • Very common in everyday speech
  • Can be a bit more direct / emotional
  • Used for physical and emotional states:
    
    • Νιώθω κρύο. – I feel cold.
    • Νιώθω χαρούμενος. – I feel happy.

• αισθάνομαι

  • Slightly more formal / “proper” in tone
  • Also used for emotions and states:
    
    • Αισθάνομαι άσχημα. – I feel bad.

In your sentence, νιώθω is completely natural and typical.

Why do we say περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση and not πιο αυτοπεποίθηση?

With nouns, Greek normally uses περισσότερος, -η, -ο (more) to express “more + noun”:

• περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση – more confidence
• περισσότερο χρόνο – more time
• περισσότερα λεφτά – more money

The word πιο is used mainly with adjectives and adverbs:

• πιο δυνατός – stronger
• πιο αργά – more slowly

So:

• Έχω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση. – I have more confidence.
• Είμαι πιο σίγουρος. – I am more sure / more confident.

Using πιο αυτοπεποίθηση would be ungrammatical.

Why is περισσότερη in the feminine form?

περισσότερη agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun αυτοπεποίθηση:

• η αυτοπεποίθηση – confidence (feminine singular, nominative)
• περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση – more confidence (feminine singular, accusative)

So we choose:

• περισσότερος for masculine nouns
• περισσότερη for feminine nouns
• περισσότερο for neuter nouns

Examples:

• Έχω περισσότερο χρόνο. (masc. ο χρόνος)
• Πίνω περισσότερη μπύρα. (fem. η μπύρα)
• Χρειάζομαι περισσότερο νερό. (neut. το νερό)

Can I change the word order, like Νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό?

Yes. Greek word order is quite flexible, and your alternative is very natural:

• Όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό, νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση.
• Νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό.

Both are correct. The difference is mainly focus:

• Starting with Όταν… puts more emphasis on the condition / situation.
• Starting with Νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση… puts more emphasis on how you feel.

Could we ever use Όταν μιλήσω instead of Όταν μιλάω? What would change?

Yes, but the meaning changes.

• Όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό…
  Present tense → describes a general / repeated situation
  → When(ever) I speak Greek without a dictionary…

• Όταν μιλήσω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό, θα νιώσω…
  μιλήσω is aorist subjunctive, usually with a future main verb
  → When I speak Greek without a dictionary (on that future occasion), I will feel…

So:

• For habitual / general facts (as in your sentence), use Όταν + present.
• For one specific future event, use Όταν + subjunctive (μιλήσω) with a future main verb:
  
  • Όταν μιλήσω ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό, θα δω αν μπορώ να τα καταφέρω.
    → When I speak Greek without a dictionary, I’ll see if I can manage.

How would I say “without my dictionary” instead of “without a dictionary”?

You would add the article and the possessive:

• χωρίς το λεξικό μου – without my dictionary

So the full sentence becomes:

• Όταν μιλάω ελληνικά χωρίς το λεξικό μου, νιώθω περισσότερη αυτοπεποίθηση.
  → When I speak Greek without my dictionary, I feel more confident.