Η φίλη μου δεν ήξερε τι να γράψει στο έγγραφο για το δημαρχείο.

My friend didn’t know what to write in the document for the town hall.

Breakdown of Η φίλη μου δεν ήξερε τι να γράψει στο έγγραφο για το δημαρχείο.

• τι: what
• δεν: not
• να: to
• η φίλη: the female friend

Questions & Answers about Η φίλη μου δεν ήξερε τι να γράψει στο έγγραφο για το δημαρχείο.

Why is there an article in Η φίλη μου if English just says my friend?

In Greek, the definite article is very often used with possessives.

So:

• η φίλη = the friend
• η φίλη μου = my friend

Even though English does not say the my friend, Greek normally does use the article here. This is completely natural Greek.

Because φίλη is feminine singular, the article is η.

Why does μου come after φίλη?

μου is the weak possessive form meaning my. In Greek, these weak possessives usually come after the noun:

• η φίλη μου = my friend
• το σπίτι μου = my house
• η αδερφή μου = my sister

So Greek says something closer to the friend my in word order, even though the natural English translation is my friend.

Does φίλη mean just female friend, or can it mean girlfriend too?

It can mean either, depending on context.

• η φίλη μου can mean my female friend
• It can also mean my girlfriend

Greek often relies on context to make the difference clear. In a neutral sentence like this one, it may simply mean my friend if the person is female. If the broader context is romantic, then it could mean my girlfriend.