Η φίλη μου προτιμάει φασόλια, αλλά εγώ σήμερα θέλω ρεβίθια με μαϊντανό.

That is the normal Greek pattern with possessive pronouns. Greek usually uses:

• the + noun + possessive
• so η φίλη μου = my friend
• το σπίτι μου = my house
• ο αδερφός σου = your brother

So although English puts my before the noun, Greek commonly puts μου after it.

It most directly means my female friend. In real life, context matters, and sometimes η φίλη μου can be understood as my girlfriend, but on its own it is often simply my friend where the friend is female.

If Greek wants to be very clear, people often use other expressions depending on the situation, such as:

• η κοπέλα μου = my girlfriend
• μια φίλη μου = a friend of mine / one of my female friends

So in this sentence, the safest reading is my female friend.

Greek often keeps the definite article with possessive expressions. So:

• η φίλη μου = my friend
• το βιβλίο σου = your book
• ο πατέρας της = her father

This is completely normal Greek grammar. You should not try to translate the article word-for-word into English.

Yes. Both are possible in Modern Greek.

• προτιμάει
• προτιμά

Both mean he/she prefers.

The longer form in -άει is very common in everyday Greek, especially in speech. The shorter form is also correct and common. So:

• Η φίλη μου προτιμάει φασόλια
• Η φίλη μου προτιμά φασόλια

Both are natural.

In Greek, many food words are commonly used in the plural when talking about the dish or ingredient in a general way.

So:

• φασόλια = beans
• ρεβίθια = chickpeas

This is similar to English, where we also often use plural food nouns like beans, peas, eggs, etc.

In Greek cuisine, these words can refer not just to the individual beans/chickpeas, but also to the food made from them.

Because Greek, like English, does not always need an article with general objects after a verb.

Here the meaning is general:

• prefers beans
• want chickpeas

So Greek naturally says:

• προτιμάει φασόλια
• θέλω ρεβίθια

If you added an article, it would sound more specific, like the beans or the chickpeas, depending on context.

Yes, the subject is already clear from the verb ending:

• θέλω = I want

So Greek does not need εγώ just to identify the subject. When εγώ is included, it usually adds emphasis or contrast.

Here the contrast is important:

• Η φίλη μου προτιμάει φασόλια, αλλά εγώ...
• My friend prefers beans, but I...

So εγώ means something like I, on the other hand or as for me.

Yes, Greek word order is flexible. σήμερα means today, and it can often move depending on emphasis.

In this sentence:

• αλλά εγώ σήμερα θέλω...

it sounds natural and highlights today as part of the speaker’s choice.

Other possible word orders include:

• αλλά εγώ θέλω σήμερα ρεβίθια
• αλλά σήμερα εγώ θέλω ρεβίθια

All are possible, but they may sound slightly different in emphasis. Greek often moves words around more freely than English.

Literally, θέλω means I want. But in everyday Greek it is also very commonly used where English might say I’d like, especially in casual situations.

So in a food context:

• θέλω ρεβίθια can mean I want chickpeas
• but in natural English you might also translate it as I’d like chickpeas

Greek uses θέλω very often in normal, non-rude situations.

με is the preposition with.

So:

• με μαϊντανό = with parsley

After με, Greek uses the accusative case. In this sentence, μαϊντανό is the accusative singular form.

This phrase describes the chickpeas:

• ρεβίθια με μαϊντανό = chickpeas with parsley

Because after με, Greek uses the accusative case.

The dictionary form is usually:

• ο μαϊντανός = parsley

But after με, it changes to:

• με μαϊντανό = with parsley

This is a standard masculine noun pattern:

• ο καφές → με καφέ
• ο χυμός → με χυμό
• ο μαϊντανός → με μαϊντανό

So the ending changes because of case.

αλλά means but. It introduces a contrast between the two parts of the sentence:

• Η φίλη μου προτιμάει φασόλια
• αλλά εγώ σήμερα θέλω ρεβίθια με μαϊντανό

So the speaker is contrasting their preference with the friend’s preference.

This is very similar to English but.

Yes, it is normal to place a comma before αλλά when it joins two clauses, just as English often uses a comma before but.

So:

• Η φίλη μου προτιμάει φασόλια, αλλά εγώ σήμερα θέλω ρεβίθια με μαϊντανό.

This punctuation helps show the contrast clearly.

They work differently.

• μου cannot be left out if you want to say my friend
• εγώ can be left out, because θέλω already shows I

So:

• Η φίλη μου προτιμάει φασόλια, αλλά σήμερα θέλω ρεβίθια με μαϊντανό.

This is still correct and natural. It just has less contrast than the version with εγώ.

By contrast, if you removed μου, then Η φίλη would mean the friend, not my friend.

It sounds neutral and natural in everyday Modern Greek. Nothing in it is especially formal or especially slangy.

A few points:

• προτιμάει is a common everyday form
• θέλω is standard and very common
• the overall structure sounds like normal spoken or written Greek

So this is a good example of ordinary conversational Greek.