Στο πανεπιστήμιο κάνω εύκολα φίλους.

At university I make friends easily.

Breakdown of Στο πανεπιστήμιο κάνω εύκολα φίλους.

• σε: at
• το πανεπιστήμιο: the university
• εύκολα: easily
• κάνω φίλους: to make friends

Questions & Answers about Στο πανεπιστήμιο κάνω εύκολα φίλους.

What does «Στο» mean here, and why is it written as one word instead of «σε το»?

«Στο» is the contraction of «σε» (in/at/to) + «το» (the, neuter singular).
So:

• σε + το πανεπιστήμιο → στο πανεπιστήμιο

In everyday Greek, these combinations are almost always contracted:

• σε + τον → στον (to the, masculine)
• σε + την → στην (to the, feminine)
• σε + το → στο (to the, neuter)

So «Στο πανεπιστήμιο» literally means “at the university” / “in the university”.

Why isn’t the subject pronoun «εγώ» (I) used? How do we know it means “I make friends easily”?

In Greek, subject pronouns like «εγώ» (I), «εσύ» (you) are usually dropped because the verb ending already shows the person and number.

The verb «κάνω» is in the 1st person singular present tense:

• κάνω = I do / I make
• κάνεις = you (sg.) do/make
• κάνει = he/she/it does/makes

So «κάνω εύκολα φίλους» can only mean “I make friends easily” even without «εγώ».
You could say «Εγώ στο πανεπιστήμιο κάνω εύκολα φίλους» for emphasis on “I”, but it’s not necessary.

What does «πανεπιστήμιο» mean exactly, and what gender is it?

«πανεπιστήμιο» means “university” (or, depending on context, “college” in the broad sense).
It is a neuter noun.

Its basic forms:

• το πανεπιστήμιο = the university (nominative singular)
• του πανεπιστημίου = of the university (genitive singular)
• το πανεπιστήμιο = (to) the university (accusative singular – same form as nominative)

In this sentence, «στο πανεπιστήμιο» is accusative, governed by the preposition «σε» (in/at/to).

Can «Στο πανεπιστήμιο» mean both “at university” in general and “at my university” specifically?

Yes. «Στο πανεπιστήμιο» can mean:

• “at university / in college” in a general sense (talking about that life stage), or
• “at the university” referring to a specific institution (which may be understood as “my” university from context).

If you want to be explicit, you can say:

• «στο πανεπιστήμιό μου» = at my university
  But in everyday speech, «στο πανεπιστήμιο» often implies “at (my) university” when you’re talking about your own situation.

What does the verb «κάνω» usually mean, and why is it used with «φίλους» to mean “make friends”?

The basic meaning of «κάνω» is “to do / to make”, like English “do/make”.

In Greek, the idiomatic way to say “make friends” is:

• «κάνω φίλους» literally “I make friends”.

So:

• κάνω φίλους = I make friends
• κάνεις φίλους = you (sg.) make friends
• κάνει φίλους = he/she makes friends

Using «κάνω» with «φίλους» is very natural and common; it’s the standard phrase for creating new friendships.

What kind of word is «εύκολα» and how is it formed?

«εύκολα» is an adverb meaning “easily”.

It comes from the adjective «εύκολος» (easy):

• εύκολος (masc.) / εύκολη (fem.) / εύκολο (neut.) = easy
  Adverb:
• εύκολα = easily

In Greek, many adverbs are formed from adjectives by using a special form, often identical to the neuter plural or an adverbial form in -α, as here: εύκολος → εύκολα.

Why is «εύκολα» placed between «κάνω» and «φίλους»? Could the word order change?

The order «κάνω εύκολα φίλους» is very natural:
verb – adverb – object.

Other orders are also possible and correct, but they slightly change emphasis:

• «Εύκολα κάνω φίλους στο πανεπιστήμιο.»
  Emphasis on εύκολα (EASILY is the point).

• «Κάνω φίλους εύκολα στο πανεπιστήμιο.»
  Neutral, but with a bit more emphasis on φίλους (friends) first, then “easily”.

Greek word order is relatively flexible; meaning is mostly preserved, but rhythm and emphasis shift.

Why is it «φίλους» and not «φίλοι»? What form is «φίλους»?

«φίλους» is the accusative plural of «φίλος» (friend, masculine).

Declension of φίλος:

• ο φίλος = the friend (nominative singular)
• του φίλου = of the friend (genitive singular)

• τον φίλο = (to) the friend (accusative singular)

• οι φίλοι = the friends (nominative plural)
• των φίλων = of the friends (genitive plural)
• τους φίλους = (to) the friends (accusative plural)

In «κάνω εύκολα φίλους», φίλους is a direct object (what do I make?), so it must be in the accusative plural.

Why is there no article before «φίλους»? Why not «τους φίλους»?

In Greek, when you talk about friends in general / some friends (not specific ones), you often omit the article.

• κάνω φίλους = I make friends (some, in general)
• κάνω τους φίλους μου = I make my friends (specific group, “my friends”)

Using «τους φίλους» without a possessive would normally mean “the friends” in a specific sense that is already known from context.
In this sentence, the idea is general — “I make friends easily” — so no article is the natural choice.

Is «φίλοι» ever used to mean “boyfriend/girlfriend”, or is it only “friends” in the platonic sense?

The noun «φίλος» (masc.) / «φίλη» (fem.) most basically means “friend”.

However, in everyday speech:

• ο φίλος μου can mean “my friend” or “my boyfriend”, depending on context.
• η φίλη μου can mean “my (female) friend” or “my girlfriend”, again depending on context.

In the plural «φίλους», it is almost always understood as friends (platonic), unless context heavily suggests romantic partners.
So «κάνω εύκολα φίλους» is understood as “I make friends easily.”

How is the whole sentence pronounced, and where does the stress fall?

The sentence «Στο πανεπιστήμιο κάνω εύκολα φίλους.» is stressed as follows (stressed syllables in caps):

• Στο πανεπιΣΤΗμιο ΚΑνω ΕΥκολα ΦΙλους.

Approximate IPA:

• /sto pa.ne.piˈsti.mio ˈka.no ˈef.ko.la ˈfi.lus/

Notes:

• πανεπιστήμιο: stress on -στή-.
• κάνω: stress on κά-.
• εύκολα: stress on εύ-.
• φίλους: stress on φί-.

Does this Greek present tense mean “I make friends easily (in general)” or “I am making friends easily (right now)”?

The Greek present tense (ενεστώτας) in «κάνω εύκολα φίλους» can cover both:

• A general/habitual meaning:
  “I make friends easily (as a general characteristic).”
• A present ongoing meaning, depending on context:
  “These days, at this university, I’m making friends easily.”

In isolation, this sentence is usually understood as a general statement about your character:
“At university, I (tend to) make friends easily.”