Όταν φιλοξενώ κόσμο, προσφέρω πρώτα νερό ή καφέ.

When I host people, I offer water or coffee first.

Breakdown of Όταν φιλοξενώ κόσμο, προσφέρω πρώτα νερό ή καφέ.

• το νερό: the water
• ή: or
• ο καφές: the coffee
• όταν: when

Questions & Answers about Όταν φιλοξενώ κόσμο, προσφέρω πρώτα νερό ή καφέ.

Why does the sentence start with Όταν? Does it mean when or whenever?

Όταν can mean when, but in a sentence like this it often has the sense of whenever.

So:

• Όταν φιλοξενώ κόσμο... = When / Whenever I have guests over...

Because the rest of the sentence describes a usual habit, English would often translate it as whenever.

What does φιλοξενώ mean exactly?

Φιλοξενώ means to host, to have someone over, or to offer hospitality.

It comes from the Greek idea of hospitality:

• φιλοξενία = hospitality
• φιλοξενώ = I host / I accommodate guests

In this sentence, it means something like:

• When I have people over
• When I host guests

Why is it φιλοξενώ and not some other form? What tense is it?

Φιλοξενώ is:

• 1st person singular
• present tense
• active voice

So it means I host or I am hosting, depending on context. Here it expresses a habitual action: