Learn Hardcore Greek: Ως ενήλικες έχουμε να μάθουμε πολλά ακόμα, αλλά αν δεν μένουμε στάσιμοι και νιώθουμε ότι ανήκουμε κάπου, κάθε μικρό βήμα χτίζει την αυτοπεποίθησή μας. - As adults we still have many things to learn, but if we don’t remain stagnant and feel that we belong somewhere, every small step builds our self‑confidence.

ως is a bit more formal and neutral.
σαν is more colloquial and often means like / as if (for comparisons), but in everyday speech people also say σαν ενήλικες with almost the same meaning.

In careful or written Greek, ως is preferred when you mean a real role or identity (as adults, as parents, as teachers, etc.).

Where is the subject “we” in this sentence? Why isn’t εμείς used?

Greek usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person and number.

έχουμε, μένουμε, νιώθουμε all end in -ουμε, which marks 1st person plural (we).
Ως ενήλικες is describing that implied subject (we, as adults).

You only add εμείς if you want to emphasize we (e.g. Εμείς, ως ενήλικες, έχουμε… = We, as adults, have…).

What exactly does έχουμε να μάθουμε mean? Is it the same as πρέπει να μάθουμε?

Έχουμε να μάθουμε literally is we have to learn in the sense we have (a lot) left to learn / there is much for us to learn.

έχουμε να μάθουμε πολλά ακόμα = we still have many things to learn / we have a lot left to learn.
πρέπει να μάθουμε = we must / we should learn (obligation).

So έχουμε να μάθουμε focuses more on the existence and amount of things still to learn, not so much on obligation or duty.

What does ακόμα add in πολλά ακόμα? Could it go elsewhere?

Here ακόμα means still / yet / more.

πολλά ακόμα = many more (things), a lot still.

If you put ακόμα before the verb, it usually means still (in time):

ακόμα μαθαίνουμε = we are still learning.

In this sentence, πολλά ακόμα is a set phrase: a lot more / many more (things).
ακόμα can also be written ακόμη; they are interchangeable in modern Greek.

Why is there a comma before αλλά? Is that normal in Greek?

Yes. In Greek, you normally put a comma before αλλά when it introduces a new clause with contrast:

…πολλά ακόμα, αλλά αν δεν μένουμε…
= …a lot more, but if we don’t stay…

So a comma before αλλά in this kind of sentence is standard and expected, similar to English.

Why does the sentence use αν δεν μένουμε στάσιμοι (present tense) and not αν δεν μείνουμε στάσιμοι?

The choice of aspect changes the meaning:

αν δεν μένουμε στάσιμοι (present)
talks about a general, ongoing or habitual condition:
if we do not remain / if we are not staying static (in general).
αν δεν μείνουμε στάσιμοι (aorist)
would refer more to a single, specific situation or period:
if we do not stay static (on that occasion / in that phase).

Here the idea is a general life principle, so the present μένουμε is natural.

What does μένουμε στάσιμοι literally mean, and why is στάσιμοι masculine plural?

Literally:

μένουμε = we stay / we remain
στάσιμοι = static / stagnant / not progressing

So μένουμε στάσιμοι = we remain stuck / we don’t move forward.

στάσιμοι is masculine plural because:

The implied subject is εμείς (we), and for mixed or unspecified gender groups, Greek normally uses the masculine plural.
So μένουμε στάσιμοι would be used even if we are a group of men and women.

What is the difference between νιώθουμε and αισθανόμαστε? Could the sentence use αισθανόμαστε instead?

Both verbs mean to feel, and in many cases they are interchangeable.

νιώθουμε ότι ανήκουμε κάπου
αισθανόμαστε ότι ανήκουμε κάπου

Both are understandable and natural.
Nuances (very slight in modern usage):

νιώθω is very common and slightly more colloquial/neutral; it’s often used for both physical and emotional feelings.
αισθάνομαι can sound a bit more formal or introspective in some contexts.

In everyday speech, νιώθουμε is perfectly natural here.

How does ότι function in νιώθουμε ότι ανήκουμε κάπου? Is it the same as ό,τι?

In this sentence, ότι is a conjunction meaning that:

νιώθουμε ότι ανήκουμε κάπου = we feel that we belong somewhere.

This ότι is different from ό,τι (with a comma):

ότι = that (introduces reported/indirect statements)
ό,τι = whatever / anything that

Examples:

Ξέρω ότι έχεις δίκιο. = I know that you are right.
Πάρε ό,τι θέλεις. = Take whatever you want.

So in the given sentence, it must be ότι (without a comma).

Dictionaries say ανήκω σε κάτι/κάπου. Why do we have ανήκουμε κάπου without σε?

ανήκω usually takes σε when followed by a specific noun:

ανήκω σε μια ομάδα = I belong to a group
ανήκει στην οικογένεια = it belongs to the family

But κάπου here is an adverb meaning somewhere, not a noun phrase. You don’t say σε κάπου; you just say:

ανήκουμε κάπου = we belong somewhere (in some place / in some group)

So there is no missing σε; the structure is correct because κάπου is used adverbially.

Why is there a comma before κάθε μικρό βήμα?

The comma separates the subordinate clause from the main clause:

…αλλά αν δεν μένουμε στάσιμοι και νιώθουμε ότι ανήκουμε κάπου,
(if we don’t remain static and we feel we belong somewhere,)
κάθε μικρό βήμα χτίζει την αυτοπεποίθησή μας.
(every small step builds our self-confidence.)

Greek normally puts a comma between a long if-clause (starting with αν) and the main result clause, just as English would.

Why is κάθε μικρό βήμα singular, not plural? Could it be κάθε μικρά βήματα?

After κάθε, Greek always uses the singular:

κάθε βήμα = every/each step
κάθε μέρα = every day
κάθε άνθρωπος = every person

So κάθε μικρό βήμα is the correct pattern.
κάθε μικρά βήματα is ungrammatical; κάθε doesn’t combine with plurals.

What does χτίζει mean here? Is it a metaphor?

Yes, it is metaphorical.

χτίζω literally = to build / to construct (a house, a wall, etc.)
κάθε μικρό βήμα χτίζει την αυτοπεποίθησή μας =
every small step builds our self‑confidence.

This metaphor is very natural in Greek:
you can χτίζω εμπειρία (build experience),
χτίζω σχέσεις (build relationships),
χτίζω καριέρα (build a career), etc.

In την αυτοπεποίθησή μας, why is there an accent on the last syllable of αυτοπεποίθησή as well?

The base word is αυτοπεποίθηση, with the accent on -ποί- (the antepenultimate syllable).
When a proparoxytone (accent 3 syllables from the end) is followed by an enclitic like μας, Greek accent rules add a second accent on the last syllable:

την αυτοπεποίθηση (no μας)
την αυτοπεποίθησή μας (with μας → extra accent on -σή)

So the double accent (αυτοπεποίθησή) is required by the spelling rules when followed by enclitics such as μας, σου, του, etc.

Why is αυτοπεποίθηση in the accusative (την αυτοπεποίθησή μας)?

Because αυτοπεποίθησή μας is the direct object of the verb χτίζει:

κάθε μικρό βήμα (subject, nominative)
χτίζει (verb)
την αυτοπεποίθησή μας (object, accusative)

The article την marks feminine singular accusative, agreeing with αυτοπεποίθηση.