Στη σούπα βάζω λίγο αλάτι και πιπέρι, αλλά όχι πολύ.

Greek word order is fairly flexible. Starting with Στη σούπα puts the focus on where the salt and pepper are going: In the soup, I put a little salt and pepper...

A more neutral order would also be possible, for example:

• Βάζω λίγο αλάτι και πιπέρι στη σούπα...

Both are natural. The version with Στη σούπα first sounds a bit more like setting the scene or topic.

στη is the contracted form of:

• σε = in / to / at
• τη(ν) = the (feminine accusative singular)

So:

• σε τη σούπα → στη σούπα

In modern Greek, this contraction is very common and natural.

After the preposition σε, Greek normally uses the accusative case.

Here, η σούπα is the dictionary form (nominative), but after σε it becomes:

• τη σούπα

Because σούπα is a feminine noun, and in this case its form happens to stay the same, the main visible change is in the article:

• η σούπα = the soup
• τη σούπα = the soup (after a preposition / as object)

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending.

• βάζω = I put / I am putting

So Greek does not need εγώ here. You could say Εγώ βάζω..., but that would add emphasis, like I put..., not someone else.

βάζω is a very common verb meaning put, place, add, and sometimes more depending on context.

In this sentence, it means add:

• Στη σούπα βάζω... = I put / add into the soup...

Because it is in the present tense, it can mean:

• I put
• I’m putting
• I usually put

The exact meaning depends on context.

In Greek, λίγο by itself can mean a little.

So:

• λίγο αλάτι = a little salt

You do not normally say ένα λίγο αλάτι for this meaning.

λίγο is extremely common with uncountable nouns like:

• λίγο νερό = a little water
• λίγη ζάχαρη = a little sugar
• λίγο ψωμί = a little bread

Because αλάτι is a neuter noun:

• το αλάτι = the salt

When λίγος / λίγη / λίγο works like a little / a small amount of, it agrees with the noun:

• λίγος
  • masculine noun
• λίγη
  • feminine noun
• λίγο
  • neuter noun

So:

• λίγο αλάτι = correct, because αλάτι is neuter

If the noun were feminine, you would use λίγη:

• λίγη ζάχαρη = a little sugar

Greek often leaves out the article with substances or ingredients when talking about an indefinite amount.

So:

• λίγο αλάτι και πιπέρι = a little salt and pepper

This is very natural. You could sometimes see articles in other contexts, but here the bare nouns sound normal and idiomatic.

πιπέρι by itself usually means pepper in the general seasoning sense. In many everyday contexts, that is enough.

If you want to be more specific, you can say:

• μαύρο πιπέρι = black pepper
• λευκό πιπέρι = white pepper

But in a simple sentence about seasoning soup, πιπέρι alone is completely natural.

Here πολύ means much / too much / a lot in the sense of quantity.

So:

• αλλά όχι πολύ = but not much / but not too much

It is not agreeing directly with a specific noun here. It works more like an adverbial expression referring to the amount being added.

You can think of it as:

• I add a little salt and pepper, but not much.

If Greek repeated the noun, you could get something like:

• αλλά όχι πολύ αλάτι
• αλλά όχι πολύ πιπέρι

But the sentence leaves that understood.

Not in this sentence.

πολλά is plural and would normally refer to many plural countable things. But here we are talking about the amount of salt and pepper, not several separate items.

So όχι πολύ is the natural choice for not much.

In Greek, a comma is commonly used before αλλά (but) when it connects two contrasting parts of a sentence.

So:

• ...και πιπέρι, αλλά όχι πολύ.

This is standard punctuation and matches the pause and contrast in meaning.

Yes. In everyday English translation, λίγο can correspond to:

• a little
• a bit
• a small amount of

So λίγο αλάτι could be understood as:

• a little salt
• a bit of salt

The exact English wording can vary, but the Greek idea is the same.

It could be either, depending on context.

Because βάζω is present tense imperfective, it can mean:

• I’m adding a little salt and pepper to the soup (right now)
• I add a little salt and pepper to the soup (as a habit / recipe instruction)

Greek present tense often covers both meanings, just like English sometimes does.

Yes. Both are possible.

• I put a little salt and pepper in the soup, but not much
• I’m putting a little salt and pepper in the soup, but not much

The Greek form βάζω does not by itself force only one of those readings. Context tells you whether it is habitual or happening now.

A rough pronunciation is:

• Sti SOO-pa VA-zo LEE-go a-LA-ti ke pee-PE-ri, a-LA O-hi po-LI.

A few helpful points:

• στη sounds like sti
• σούπα has the stress on the first syllable: SOO-pa
• λίγο has the stress on LI
• αλάτι has the stress on LA
• πιπέρι has the stress on PE
• πολύ has the stress on the last syllable: po-LI

In this sentence, it is best understood as in / into, depending on how literally you want to think about the action.

• Στη σούπα βάζω... = I put/add ... in(to) the soup

Greek σε covers several meanings that English often separates into in, to, at, or into, so the best translation depends on context. Here, because something is being added, into the soup is a useful way to think about it.