Το κρασί είναι λίγο γλυκό, αλλά ταιριάζει με τη σαλάτα.

The wine is a bit sweet, but it goes with the salad.

Breakdown of Το κρασί είναι λίγο γλυκό, αλλά ταιριάζει με τη σαλάτα.

• είμαι: to be
• αλλά: but
• λίγο: a bit
• η σαλάτα: the salad
• γλυκός: sweet
• το κρασί: the wine
• ταιριάζω με: to go with

Questions & Answers about Το κρασί είναι λίγο γλυκό, αλλά ταιριάζει με τη σαλάτα.

Why does the sentence start with Το? Do I always need an article with food/drink in Greek?

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English. Το κρασί literally means the wine, but in context it often corresponds to natural English like This wine / The wine (we’re drinking).

• You can say Κρασί είναι λίγο γλυκό… but it sounds more like a general statement (Wine is a bit sweet…) or it feels incomplete without context.
• With specific items on the table/menu, Greek commonly uses the article: Το κρασί, η σαλάτα, το νερό.

What gender is κρασί, and how do I know?

κρασί is neuter. You can tell from:

• the article: το (neuter singular nominative/accusative)
• the adjective agreement later: γλυκό (neuter singular)

So: Το κρασί (neuter) → (είναι) γλυκό (also neuter).

Why is it είναι and not something like εστί or είμαι?

είναι is the present tense, 3rd person singular of είμαι (to be):

• εγώ είμαι = I am
• εσύ είσαι = you are
• αυτό/αυτή/αυτό είναι = he/she/it is

εστί is an older/ancient form and not used in everyday Modern Greek.

Is λίγο an adjective or an adverb here? Why doesn’t it change form?

Here λίγο means a little / a bit and functions like an adverb of degree, modifying the adjective γλυκό. In this usage it usually stays as λίγο (common, fixed-looking form).

• είναι λίγο γλυκό = it’s a bit sweet

You’ll also see λίγο used as a neuter form meaning a little (amount), which is one reason it often appears as λίγο.

Why is γλυκό at the end of the first part? Is word order flexible?

Yes, Greek word order is more flexible than English because endings/articles show roles clearly. The most neutral here is:

• Το κρασί είναι λίγο γλυκό = The wine is a bit sweet.

You could also hear:

• Το κρασί είναι γλυκό λίγο (less common, more emphatic/colloquial)
• Λίγο γλυκό είναι το κρασί (emphasis: It’s a bit sweet, the wine is)

What exactly does αλλά mean, and why is there a comma before it?

αλλά means but and introduces a contrast:

• …λίγο γλυκό, αλλά… = …a bit sweet, but…

The comma is normal punctuation when connecting two clauses with αλλά, especially when each side has its own verb (είναι / ταιριάζει).

What does ταιριάζει mean, and how is it used?

ταιριάζει means it matches / it goes well / it pairs well.

• ταιριάζει με X = it goes well with X
  So: ταιριάζει με τη σαλάτα = it goes well with the salad.

It’s 3rd person singular present tense (subject is το κρασί).

Why is it ταιριάζει (ending in -ει)?

Many Modern Greek verbs in the present tense, 3rd person singular, end in -ει. For ταιριάζω (I match/pair):

• εγώ ταιριάζω
• εσύ ταιριάζεις
• αυτό/αυτή/αυτό ταιριάζει

So ταιριάζει = it matches / it pairs.

Why do we say με τη σαλάτα? What case is τη σαλάτα?

The preposition με (with) takes the accusative case.

• η σαλάτα (nominative, “the salad” as a subject)
• τη(ν) σαλάτα (accusative, after με and many other prepositions)

So με τη σαλάτα is with the salad.

Why is it τη and not την?

Both exist. την is the full feminine accusative singular article, but in everyday Greek the final -ν is often dropped before most consonants:

• την σαλάτα → commonly τη σαλάτα You’re more likely to keep την before vowels and certain consonant sounds for clarity/ease of pronunciation (rules vary by speaker/style).

How do I pronounce ταιριάζει and where is the stress?

ταιριάζει is stressed on the -ά-: ταιρι-Á-ζει. A simple guide:

• ται- like teh / tay (depending on accent)
• -ρι- like ree
• -ά- stressed AH
• -ζει like zee

Overall: something like teh-ree-AH-zee (stress on AH).

Does γλυκό here mean “sweet” in the taste sense or “sweet” like “cute”?

In this food/drink context, γλυκό clearly means sweet (taste). Greek does use γλυκός/γλυκιά/γλυκό for “sweet” in an affectionate sense too, but with κρασί it’s about flavor.