Σήμερα δοκιμάζω να γράψω πέντε φράσεις στα ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό.

Today I’m trying to write five phrases in Greek without a dictionary.

Breakdown of Σήμερα δοκιμάζω να γράψω πέντε φράσεις στα ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό.

• να: to
• σήμερα: today
• σε: in
• γράφω: to write
• χωρίς: without
• το λεξικό: the dictionary
• τα ελληνικά: the Greek language
• η φράση: the phrase
• πέντε: five
• δοκιμάζω: to test

Questions & Answers about Σήμερα δοκιμάζω να γράψω πέντε φράσεις στα ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό.

What does Σήμερα mean, and why is it at the beginning of the sentence?

Σήμερα means today. It’s an adverb of time, and Greek often places time words at the start to set the scene, but it can also move:

• Δοκιμάζω σήμερα να γράψω… = I’m trying today to write…
  The meaning stays basically the same; the placement mainly affects emphasis and flow.

What tense/person is δοκιμάζω, and who is doing the action?

δοκιμάζω is present tense, 1st person singular: I try / I’m trying.
Greek often omits the subject pronoun (εγώ) because the verb ending already shows the person. If you add it (Εγώ δοκιμάζω…), it usually adds emphasis: I (as opposed to someone else) am trying.

Why is να used after δοκιμάζω?

In modern Greek, να commonly introduces a subjunctive clause, especially after verbs like try, want, can, etc.
So δοκιμάζω να γράψω literally means something like I try (in order) to write—functionally the same as to write in English.

Why is it να γράψω and not να γράφω?

This is an aspect choice:

• να γράψω = aorist (perfective) subjunctive → focuses on completing the action (writing the set of sentences as a finished task).
• να γράφω = present (imperfective) subjunctive → focuses on the process/ongoing activity (the act of writing, habitually or continuously).

In this sentence, because you’re aiming to produce a specific result (five phrases), γράψω sounds natural.

What case is πέντε φράσεις, and why is φράσεις in that form?

πέντε φράσεις is the direct object of γράψω, so it’s in the accusative.
φράσεις is accusative plural of η φράση (phrase/sentence).
The number πέντε itself doesn’t change form here.

Does φράσεις mean “phrases” or “sentences”? Would προτάσεις be better?

φράση can mean phrase, but it’s also commonly used in everyday Greek to mean a sentence (especially in learning contexts).
πρόταση more directly means sentence (and also proposal).
So:

• πέντε φράσεις = very natural for “five sentences/phrases”
• πέντε προτάσεις = also correct, slightly more “grammar-term” sounding

What does στα ελληνικά mean grammatically, and why is it στα?

στα ελληνικά means in Greek.

• στα is a contraction of σε + τα = in/on/at + the (neuter plural).
• ελληνικά here is neuter plural used as a language name (Greek), literally “the Greek (things/words).”

You’ll also hear στα Αγγλικά, στα Γαλλικά, etc. for languages.

Could I also say σε ελληνικά without τα/στα?

Usually, for languages, the standard everyday form is στα + (language in neuter plural): στα ελληνικά.
σε ελληνικά is less common and can sound odd or incomplete in many contexts. If you want an alternative, you can say:

• στην ελληνική γλώσσα = in the Greek language (more formal/explicit)

Why is it χωρίς λεξικό and not χωρίς ένα λεξικό or χωρίς το λεξικό?

Greek often omits the article when speaking generally:

• χωρίς λεξικό = without a dictionary (in general, any dictionary)

You can specify if needed:

• χωρίς ένα λεξικό = without a (specific/one) dictionary (less common, more emphasis)
• χωρίς το λεξικό = without the dictionary (a particular one you mean)

What case does χωρίς take, and what form is λεξικό here?

χωρίς takes the accusative.
λεξικό is neuter singular accusative, and for neuter nouns the nominative and accusative often look the same (το λεξικό).

What’s the most natural English-like word order here, and is Greek word order flexible?

A close English-like order would be:
Σήμερα δοκιμάζω να γράψω πέντε φράσεις στα ελληνικά χωρίς λεξικό.
= Today I’m trying to write five sentences in Greek without a dictionary.

Greek word order is fairly flexible because endings show grammatical roles. You can move parts for emphasis, e.g.:

• Χωρίς λεξικό, σήμερα δοκιμάζω να γράψω… (emphasizes “without a dictionary”)
  But the given sentence is already very natural.

How is the sentence pronounced (roughly), and what should I watch out for?

A rough pronunciation guide (not IPA):
SÍ-me-ra do-kee-MÁ-zo na GRÁp-so PÉ-nte FRÁ-sis sta eh-lee-nee-KÁ kho-RÍS lex-ee-KÓ

Things to notice:

• Stress is marked in Greek spelling (e.g., Σήμερα, δοκιμάζω, γράψω, ελληνικά, χωρίς, λεξικό).
• χ is not like English “ch” in chair; it’s a throatier sound, like German Bach or Scottish loch.