Πριν πάω στη γραμματεία, τυπώνω την αίτηση και τη βάζω στο μπλε ντοσιέ.

Modern Greek normally does not use an infinitive the way English does, so instead of before to go, Greek uses a full verb form: πριν πάω = before I go.

Also, Greek does not normally use θα after time words like πριν, όταν, μόλις when the meaning is future. So you say:

• πριν πάω
• not πριν θα πάω

You may also hear πριν να πάω, but πριν πάω is very common and natural.

Both πάω and πηγαίνω mean I go.

In everyday Greek, πάω is extremely common and often sounds more natural for a single trip or event. Πηγαίνω is also correct, but it can feel a bit more neutral, formal, or more focused on repeated/ongoing movement.

So in this sentence, πριν πάω στη γραμματεία is the most natural everyday phrasing.

στη is the contraction of σε + τη, so it means to the / at the / in the, depending on context.

γραμματεία usually means the administrative office, secretariat, or registrar’s office in a school, university, or organization. It does not mean grammar.

So πάω στη γραμματεία means something like:

• I go to the office
• I go to the secretariat
• I go to the registrar’s office

The exact English translation depends on the setting.

Because αίτηση is the direct object of τυπώνω.

Greek marks this with the accusative article:

• η αίτηση = the application as a subject
• την αίτηση = the application as an object

English does not usually show this difference, but Greek does. Since the speaker is printing the application, Greek uses την αίτηση.

Αίτηση often means application, form, or request, depending on context.

In a context like going to the γραμματεία, it very often means an application form or some kind of official document you submit.

So τυπώνω την αίτηση most naturally means I print the application/form.

τη is a weak object pronoun meaning it, referring back to την αίτηση.

Greek uses this just like English does:

• I print the application and put it in the folder.
• τυπώνω την αίτηση και τη βάζω στο ντοσιέ

Repeating την αίτηση would be possible, but using τη sounds smoother and more natural.

This pronoun is basically the same word: την / τη.

In Modern Greek, the final -ν often drops before many consonants, so τη βάζω is the normal form here.

You will often see the full την kept before vowels and certain consonant sounds, but before β it is very common to get τη.

So:

• τη βάζω = normal and natural
• it still means I put it

Because weak object pronouns in Greek normally go before a finite verb.

So Greek says:

• τη βάζω
• τον βλέπω
• τους ξέρω

This is standard word order in ordinary statements. English puts the object pronoun after the verb (I put it), but Greek usually puts it before (τη βάζω).

στο is the contraction of σε + το, so it means in the / into the / to the.

• μπλε = blue
• ντοσιέ = folder / file / binder

So στο μπλε ντοσιέ means in the blue folder.

This kind of contraction is extremely common in Greek:

• σε + το = στο
• σε + τη = στη
• σε + τον = στον

Because both are commonly treated as indeclinable in Modern Greek.

• μπλε is a color word that usually stays the same
• ντοσιέ is a loanword that also usually stays the same

So instead of changing the adjective or noun ending, Greek often shows the grammar through the article:

• το μπλε ντοσιέ
• στο μπλε ντοσιέ

That is completely normal.

Because Greek present tense can describe:

• a routine
• a usual sequence of actions
• instructions or procedural steps

So this sentence can mean something like:

• Before I go to the office, I print the application and put it in the blue folder
• This is what I do before going to the office

It does not have to mean that the speaker is doing it right this second. Greek present works a lot like English present in that way.