Learn Hardcore Greek: Θέλω να γράψω δικό μου άρθρο στα ελληνικά, έστω κι αν κάνω πολλά λάθη. - I want to write my own article in Greek, even if I make many mistakes.

So yes, in translation να γράψω often corresponds to “to write”, but grammatically να is not “to”; it is a marker of the subjunctive mood, used after verbs of wanting, needing, trying, etc.

Why is it γράψω and not γράφω after θέλω να in this sentence?

Greek distinguishes aspect:

γράψω = aorist subjunctive → a single, complete action: “write (once)”
γράφω = present subjunctive → an ongoing or repeated action: “be writing / keep writing”

Here you’re talking about completing one article, so Θέλω να γράψω δικό μου άρθρο = “I want to write (and finish) my own article.”

If you said Θέλω να γράφω άρθρα, that would sound like “I want to be (in general) writing articles / I want to write articles regularly.”

What tense/mood is γράψω, exactly?

γράψω is:

aorist
subjunctive
1st person singular

of the verb γράφω (“to write”).

It does not mean past here. Aorist subjunctive in Greek expresses a non‑completed, non‑realized action (often future‑oriented) viewed as a whole, especially after να, αν, όταν, etc.

Why do we say δικό μου άρθρο instead of just άρθρο μου?

Both are grammatical, but the meaning is different:

άρθρο μου = “my article” (neutral possession)
δικό μου άρθρο = “my own article” (emphasizes that it belongs to me in contrast to others)

δικό μου is an emphatic (strong) possessive, similar to English “my own”.
So the sentence suggests: “I want to write my own article (not someone else’s, not a shared one, etc.), in Greek…”

What is the difference between δικό μου άρθρο and το δικό μου άρθρο?

The definite article το makes the noun specific/definite:

Θέλω να γράψω δικό μου άρθρο.
“I want to write my own article (some article of my own).”
→ non‑specific; you just want to produce a personal article.
Θέλω να γράψω το δικό μου άρθρο.
“I want to write my own article (that particular one of mine).”
→ refers to a specific article already identifiable in context (e.g. “not the joint article, not the translation, but my article”).

So:

without το → “a(n) (my‑own) article”
with το → “the (my‑own) article”

Why is it δικό and not δικός or δική?

δικός, δική, δικό is the emphatic possessive that agrees with the gender and number of the noun it modifies:

masculine: δικός (e.g. δικός μου φίλος – my own (male) friend)
feminine: δική (e.g. δική μου φίλη – my own (female) friend)
neuter: δικό (e.g. δικό μου άρθρο – my own article)

Because άρθρο is neuter (το άρθρο), the correct form is δικό.

Could I also say άρθρο δικό μου? Is there any difference?

Yes, you can say άρθρο δικό μου, and it is correct.

δικό μου άρθρο (adjective in front) sounds like “my own article” (more typical, neutral order).
άρθρο δικό μου (adjective after the noun) can feel a bit more like “an article that is mine / an article of mine”, often with a slightly stronger or more contrastive emphasis:
“ένα άρθρο, δικό μου” – “an article, mine.”

In many contexts the difference is very subtle; both are acceptable, but δικό μου άρθρο is the more standard ordering in this sentence.

Why is it στα ελληνικά and not something like σε ελληνικά or σε ελληνική?

στα ελληνικά is σε + τα ελληνικά:

τα ελληνικά = “(the) Greek (language)”
(languages in Greek are usually neuter plural: τα ελληνικά, τα αγγλικά, τα ισπανικά, etc.)
σε + τα → στα (“in the”)

So:

στα ελληνικά = “in Greek (language)”

Alternatives:

στην ελληνική γλώσσα = “in the Greek language” (more formal/spelled out)
ελληνικά without a preposition is fine with some verbs:
Μιλάω ελληνικά. – “I speak Greek.”

But with a noun like άρθρο, the natural expression is άρθρο στα ελληνικά (“article in Greek”), not σε ελληνικά.

What exactly does έστω κι αν mean, and how is it different from just αν?

αν by itself means “if”.
έστω κι αν means “even if” or “even though, even in the case that”.

So:

αν κάνω πολλά λάθη = “if I make many mistakes”
έστω κι αν κάνω πολλά λάθη = “even if I make many mistakes”
(I’m willing to do it despite that possibility.)

In the sentence, έστω κι αν introduces a concessive idea: “I want to write my own article in Greek, even if I make many mistakes.”

Why is it written κι αν instead of και αν?

κι is just a short form of και (“and”) used before:

vowels (mostly), and
some consonant clusters,

to make pronunciation smoother.

So:

και αν → pronounced [kjan] → written κι αν
και όμως → κι όμως

There is no change in meaning.
You could write και αν, but κι αν is the normal, more natural spelling in this combination.

Is έστω κι αν the same as αν και or παρόλο που?

They are closely related but not identical:

έστω κι αν κάνω πολλά λάθη
= “even if I make many mistakes”
→ emphasizes a hypothetical or possible obstacle you accept.
αν και κάνω πολλά λάθη
= “although I make many mistakes”
→ usually presents the fact as more real/actual than hypothetical.
παρόλο που κάνω πολλά λάθη
= “even though I make many mistakes”
→ also concessive, often more plainly factual.

In many everyday contexts they can translate similarly, but:

έστω κι αν leans toward “even if (that happens)”.
αν και / παρόλο που lean toward “although / even though (it happens/is true)”.

Why do you say κάνω πολλά λάθη and not έχω πολλά λάθη?

In Greek, as in English, you “make/do mistakes”:

κάνω λάθος / κάνω λάθη = “make a mistake / make mistakes”

έχω λάθη can appear in some contexts (e.g. Το κείμενό μου έχει λάθη. – “My text has mistakes.”), but when talking about your own behavior, the natural verb is κάνω:

Κάνω πολλά λάθη. – “I make many mistakes.”

So έστω κι αν κάνω πολλά λάθη matches English “even if I make many mistakes,” not “I have many mistakes.”

Why is it πολλά λάθη and not something like πολλές λάθοι?

Because of gender and irregular plural:

λάθος = neuter noun (“mistake”)
- singular: το λάθος
- plural: τα λάθη

The adjective πολύς, πολλή, πολύ (“much/many”) becomes:

masculine plural: πολλοί
feminine plural: πολλές
neuter plural: πολλά

Since λάθη is neuter plural, you must use the neuter plural form:

πολλά λάθη = “many mistakes”

So:

πολλές is feminine plural → wrong here.
λάθοι is not a Greek word. The correct plural is λάθη.

What tense is κάνω in έστω κι αν κάνω πολλά λάθη, and why that tense?

κάνω is present indicative, 1st person singular.

In clauses with αν / έστω κι αν that refer to a general or future possibility, Greek often uses the present tense, where English would also say a simple present:

έστω κι αν κάνω πολλά λάθη
= “even if I make many mistakes (when I do it in the future)”

So it’s grammatically present, but refers to a possible future situation.