Βάζω το κουταλάκι δίπλα στο φλιτζάνι.

In Greek, the verb ending often already tells you who the subject is.
Βάζω means I put, so the subject I is built into the verb.

Greek often leaves subject pronouns out unless they are needed for emphasis or clarity. So:

• Βάζω = I put
• Εγώ βάζω = I put / I am the one putting (more emphatic)

Βάζω is a very common verb meaning to put, to place, to set, and in some contexts even to add.

In this sentence, it means I put / I am putting.

It is the present tense form for I:

• βάζω = I put / I am putting

Depending on context, the Greek present can describe:

• a general habit: I put
• an action happening now: I am putting

Κουταλάκι is the diminutive form of κουτάλι.

• κουτάλι = spoon
• κουταλάκι = small spoon, teaspoon

The ending -άκι often makes a noun smaller, cuter, or more specific. Here it most naturally means teaspoon or small spoon.

So:

• το κουταλάκι = the teaspoon / the little spoon

Because both κουταλάκι and φλιτζάνι are neuter singular nouns.

In the singular, the definite article for neuter is:

• το in the nominative and accusative

So:

• το κουταλάκι = the spoon / teaspoon
• το φλιτζάνι = the cup

Στο is a contraction of:

• σε = to, at, in, on
• το = the

So:

• σε το becomes στο

This is extremely common in Modern Greek.

Examples:

• στο σπίτι = in the house / to the house
• στο τραπέζι = on the table
• στο φλιτζάνι = to the cup / at the cup

In your sentence, it is part of the phrase δίπλα στο φλιτζάνι = next to the cup.

Δίπλα means next to or beside.

It usually combines with a noun phrase introduced by σε + article, which becomes forms like:

• στο
• στη
• στον

So:

• δίπλα στο φλιτζάνι = next to the cup
• literally: beside the cup

This is a very common way to express location.

In Modern Greek, the preposition σε normally takes the accusative.
For many neuter nouns, the nominative and accusative forms are the same, so you do not see a change.

For φλιτζάνι:

• nominative: το φλιτζάνι
• accusative: το φλιτζάνι

So after στο (σε + το), it still looks the same:

• στο φλιτζάνι

This is normal.

Both noun phrases here are in the accusative.

• το κουταλάκι is the direct object of βάζω
• στο φλιτζάνι is used after σε, which takes the accusative in Modern Greek

So the structure is roughly:

• Βάζω = I put
• το κουταλάκι = the spoon / teaspoon
• δίπλα στο φλιτζάνι = next to the cup

For neuter nouns like these, nominative and accusative are identical in form, so the case is understood from function, not from a visible ending change.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order, although not completely free.

The neutral order here is:

• Βάζω το κουταλάκι δίπλα στο φλιτζάνι.

But you could also hear variations such as:

• Το κουταλάκι το βάζω δίπλα στο φλιτζάνι.
• Δίπλα στο φλιτζάνι βάζω το κουταλάκι.

These different orders can shift emphasis:

• focus on the spoon
• focus on next to the cup
• contrast with some other location

Still, the original sentence is the most straightforward and natural neutral version.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

VA-zo to koo-ta-LA-kee DEE-pla sto fli-TZA-ni

A few helpful notes:

• βάζω → stress on βά
• κουταλάκι → stress on λά
• δίπλα → stress on δί
• φλιτζάνι → stress on ζά

Also:

• ζ sounds like the z in zoo
• τζ sounds like the j in jam
• φ sounds like f

Stress is very important in Greek because it is written and can distinguish forms or just make pronunciation correct.

In this sentence:

• βάζω
• κουταλάκι
• δίπλα
• φλιτζάνι

If you put the stress in the wrong place, you may still be understood, but it will sound incorrect or much less natural.

Greek learners should make a habit of learning each new word together with its stress mark.

It is the present tense, and in English it can correspond to either:

• I put
• I am putting

The exact English translation depends on context.

So this Greek sentence could mean:

• I put the teaspoon next to the cup if you are describing a routine
• I am putting the teaspoon next to the cup if you are describing what is happening right now

Greek often leaves that distinction to context.

Yes, but the meaning shifts slightly.

• δίπλα στο φλιτζάνι = next to the cup, right beside the cup
• κοντά στο φλιτζάνι = near the cup

So δίπλα is more exact and closer. It suggests immediate adjacency, while κοντά is looser.

In your sentence, δίπλα is the better choice if you mean right next to.

Both are neuter nouns.

You can often recognize neuter nouns by endings such as:

• -ι
• -ο
• -μα
• some diminutive endings like -άκι

Here:

• κουταλάκι ends in -άκι, a very common neuter diminutive ending
• φλιτζάνι ends in -ι, also commonly neuter

That is why both take the neuter article το.