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

I put a little salt and pepper in the soup, but not much.

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

• λίγος: little
• και: and
• πολύς: much
• αλλά: but

Questions & Answers about Στη σούπα βάζω λίγο αλάτι και πιπέρι, αλλά όχι πολύ.

Why does the sentence start with Στη σούπα instead of putting it later?

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.

What exactly is στη?

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.

Why is it σούπα after στη? Shouldn’t the noun change more?

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)