Τα χείλη μου είναι ξηρά σήμερα.

to be

Breakdown of Τα χείλη μου είναι ξηρά σήμερα.

• σήμερα: today
• μου: my
• το χείλος: the lip

Questions & Answers about Τα χείλη μου είναι ξηρά σήμερα.

What does each word in Τα χείλη μου είναι ξηρά σήμερα. mean?

A word-by-word breakdown is:

• Τα = the
• χείλη = lips
• μου = my
• είναι = are
• ξηρά = dry
• σήμερα = today

So the literal order is the lips my are dry today, but the natural English translation is My lips are dry today.

Why does Greek use τα here? English just says my lips, not the my lips.

This is very normal in Greek. With body parts, family members, and many personal possessions, Greek often uses the definite article together with the possessive:

• τα χείλη μου = my lips
• το χέρι μου = my hand
• η μητέρα μου = my mother

So even though English does not use the here, Greek usually does.

Why is μου after χείλη instead of before it?