Συνήθως δεν απαντάω στα μηνύματα όταν δουλεύω.

Συνήθως means usually. It is an adverb of frequency, so it tells you how often something happens.

Putting it at the beginning is very natural in Greek, just like Usually, I don’t reply... in English. Greek word order is flexible, so you could move it, but the beginning is a very common position.

Δεν is the basic word for not before verbs.

So:

• απαντάω = I reply / I answer
• δεν απαντάω = I do not reply / I don’t reply

In Greek, negation is usually very simple: δεν + verb.

Both απαντάω and απαντώ mean I reply / I answer.

This is a very common pattern in Modern Greek: some verbs have two present-tense forms, one in -άω and one in -ώ.

So these are both correct:

• απαντάω
• απαντώ

Usually, απαντάω sounds a bit more everyday and conversational, while απαντώ can sound slightly more neutral or formal, but both are common.

Because Greek uses a preposition here: σε = to.

With απαντάω, you normally reply to something, not just reply something. So Greek says:

• απαντάω σε κάτι = I reply to something

In this sentence:

• σε τα μηνύματα contracts to στα μηνύματα

So στα μηνύματα literally means to the messages.

στα is a contraction of:

• σε = to / in / at
• τα = the

So:

• σε τα → στα

This is very common in Greek. Similar contractions include:

• σε το → στο
• σε την → στην
• σε τις → στις

Μηνύματα is the accusative plural of μήνυμα (message).

Here it is used after the preposition σε in the form στα μηνύματα.

For neuter nouns like μήνυμα, the nominative and accusative are often the same in form:

• singular: το μήνυμα
• plural: τα μηνύματα

So even though it is functioning grammatically in the accusative, it looks the same as the nominative plural.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb ending already shows the subject:

• απαντάω = I reply
• δουλεύω = I work / I am working

So Greek does not need εγώ (I) unless you want emphasis or contrast.

For example:

• Συνήθως δεν απαντάω... = Usually I don’t reply...
• Εγώ συνήθως δεν απαντάω... = I usually don’t reply... (more emphatic)

Because Greek uses the present tense here for a habitual or repeated situation.

• όταν = when
• δουλεύω = I work / I am working

So όταν δουλεύω means when I’m working or when I work, depending on context.

In this sentence, the idea is habitual:

• Usually, I don’t reply to messages when I’m working.

Greek present tense often covers both English present simple and present continuous meanings.

It can mean both.

That is very normal in Greek. The present tense often has a broader use than in English.

So δουλεύω can mean:

• I work (general fact / habit)
• I’m working (right now or in a current situation)

Here, because of όταν and συνήθως, the sense is something like:

• when I’m working
• or when I’m at work / busy working

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English.

The sentence as given is very natural:

• Συνήθως δεν απαντάω στα μηνύματα όταν δουλεύω.

But other orders are also possible, for example:

• Δεν απαντάω συνήθως στα μηνύματα όταν δουλεύω.
• Όταν δουλεύω, συνήθως δεν απαντάω στα μηνύματα.

These versions may shift the emphasis slightly, but the core meaning stays the same.

In this sentence, reply is usually the more natural English choice.

That is because with messages, English commonly says:

• reply to messages

Greek uses απαντάω for both answer and reply, depending on context.

For example:

• απαντάω σε μια ερώτηση = I answer a question
• απαντάω σε μήνυμα = I reply to a message

So the Greek verb is broader than either single English word.

It would be:

• Συνήθως δεν απαντώ στα μηνύματα όταν δουλεύω.

This means exactly the same thing. The difference is mainly style and personal preference.

A learner should recognize both forms as normal Modern Greek.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

see-NEE-thos then a-pan-TA-o sta mi-NI-ma-ta O-tan thoo-LE-vo

A few helpful points:

• Συνήθως has the stress on νή
• απαντάω has the stress on τά
• μηνύματα has the stress on νύ
• δουλεύω has the stress on λεύ

Also:

• δ in δεν sounds like the th in this
• θ in συνήθως and όταν sounds like the th in think

Yes, and it would mean something slightly different.

• όταν δουλεύω = when I’m working
• όταν είμαι στη δουλειά = when I’m at work

The first focuses more on the activity of working.
The second focuses more on being physically at work or in the work setting.

In many everyday situations, they can be quite close in meaning, but they are not always identical.