Όταν βγαίνουμε έξω, ο φίλος μου παίρνει πάντα σουβλάκι, ενώ εγώ συχνά διαλέγω πίτα.

When we go out, my friend always gets souvlaki, while I often choose pie.

Breakdown of Όταν βγαίνουμε έξω, ο φίλος μου παίρνει πάντα σουβλάκι, ενώ εγώ συχνά διαλέγω πίτα.

• εγώ: I
• μου: my
• ο φίλος: the male friend
• πάντα: always

Questions & Answers about Όταν βγαίνουμε έξω, ο φίλος μου παίρνει πάντα σουβλάκι, ενώ εγώ συχνά διαλέγω πίτα.

Why does Greek say βγαίνουμε έξω? Don’t both words mean go out?

Yes, both are related to the idea of going out:

• βγαίνω = I go out / I come out
• έξω = outside / out

So literally, βγαίνουμε έξω is something like we go out outside, which sounds repetitive in English. But in Greek, this is very natural and common. It works like an everyday expression meaning we go out.

You can also hear just βγαίνουμε, but βγαίνουμε έξω is very idiomatic and often used in casual speech.

What tense are βγαίνουμε, παίρνει, and διαλέγω in?

They are all in the present tense.

In this sentence, the present tense is used for habitual actions, not for something happening right now. So it means:

• Όταν βγαίνουμε έξω = When we go out
• ο φίλος μου παίρνει πάντα... = my friend always gets/orders...
• εγώ συχνά διαλέγω... = I often choose...

This is very similar to English using the present simple for routines:

• When we go out, my friend always gets...

Why is it Όταν here? What exactly does Όταν mean?