Όταν γυρίζουμε σπίτι, ο σκύλος δεν τραβάει πια και περπατάει ήρεμα δίπλα μου.

Όταν can mean both when and whenever, depending on context.

In this sentence, Όταν γυρίζουμε σπίτι is most naturally understood as when/whenever we return home. Because the verb is in the present tense, it often gives a habitual sense: this is what usually happens when we get home.

So:

• Όταν = when / whenever
• Όταν + present verb often describes something that happens regularly

Γυρίζουμε is the present tense, first person plural: we return / we are returning.

Greek often uses the present tense to describe:

• a general habit
• something that typically happens
• a regular situation

So here it does not necessarily mean we are returning right now. It can mean:

• when we return home
• when we get home
• whenever we come back home

This is very common in both Greek and English.

The verb γυρίζω has several meanings, including:

• turn
• go around
• return / come back

Here, because it is followed by σπίτι, it clearly means return / go back / come back home.

So γυρίζουμε σπίτι means:

• we return home
• we go back home
• we come home

The exact English translation depends on style, but the Greek meaning is straightforward in context.

Great question. In Greek, σπίτι without an article is very common in expressions meaning home in a general sense.

So:

• γυρίζουμε σπίτι = we return home
• πάω σπίτι = I’m going home

This works much like English go home, where we also usually do not say go to home.

By contrast:

• στο σπίτι means to the house / at home / to the home, depending on context

Examples:

• Πάω σπίτι. = I’m going home.
• Πάω στο σπίτι του φίλου μου. = I’m going to my friend’s house.

So in your sentence, σπίτι is being used in the special adverbial sense of home.

The comma separates the introductory time clause from the main clause.

Structure:

• Όταν γυρίζουμε σπίτι, = time clause
• ο σκύλος δεν τραβάει πια... = main clause

This is similar to English:

• When we get home, the dog no longer pulls...

Greek commonly uses a comma after an initial clause like this.

Ο σκύλος is in the nominative case because it is the subject of the main clause.

Breakdown:

• ο = masculine singular definite article, nominative
• σκύλος = dog, masculine singular nominative

It is the dog that performs the actions:

• δεν τραβάει
• περπατάει

So nominative is exactly what we expect here.

Δεν is the standard negation word used before verbs in Greek.

So:

• τραβάει = he/she/it pulls
• δεν τραβάει = he/she/it does not pull

In this sentence:

• ο σκύλος δεν τραβάει πια = the dog no longer pulls / doesn’t pull anymore

Greek normally places δεν directly before the verb (or before the verb phrase).

Πια means anymore, any longer, or now no longer, depending on the sentence.

Here, with negation, it gives the idea:

• δεν τραβάει πια = he doesn’t pull anymore
• he no longer pulls

This is a very common use.

Compare:

• Δεν μένω πια εκεί. = I don’t live there anymore.
• Δεν καπνίζει πια. = He/She doesn’t smoke anymore.

So πια often marks a change from a previous situation.

Yes. Τραβάει and τραβά are both accepted forms of the same verb in the present tense.

From τραβάω / τραβώ:

• τραβάει = he/she/it pulls
• τραβά = same meaning

Likewise:

• περπατάει and περπατά are both common

The longer forms in -άει are very common in everyday Greek and are often especially helpful for learners because the endings are easier to spot.

So here:

• ο σκύλος δεν τραβάει = the dog doesn’t pull

Yes, και here simply means and.

It links the two actions of the dog:

• δεν τραβάει πια
• περπατάει ήρεμα δίπλα μου

So the structure is:

• the dog no longer pulls and walks calmly beside me

Very straightforward coordination.

Because ήρεμα is an adverb, while ήρεμος is an adjective.

Here we need an adverb because it describes how the dog walks.

• ήρεμος = calm (adjective: describes a noun)
• ήρεμα = calmly (adverb: describes a verb)

So:

• ένας ήρεμος σκύλος = a calm dog
• ο σκύλος περπατάει ήρεμα = the dog walks calmly

This is the same distinction as calm vs calmly in English.

Δίπλα μου means beside me / next to me.

Breakdown:

• δίπλα = beside / next to
• μου = my / to me / me depending on function; here it means me

After words like δίπλα, Greek uses the weak genitive pronoun:

• δίπλα μου = next to me
• δίπλα σου = next to you
• δίπλα του/της = next to him/her

You do not use εγώ here, because εγώ is the strong subject form I.
Greek uses μου after δίπλα in this kind of expression.

So think of δίπλα μου as a fixed pattern meaning beside me.

Both are possible in Greek, but they mean slightly different things.

• δίπλα μου = beside me / next to me
• μαζί μου = with me

In your sentence, δίπλα μου emphasizes the dog’s physical position: the dog is walking right next to me.

If you said μαζί μου, it would mean more generally that the dog is walking with me, but not necessarily right at my side.

So δίπλα μου is more precise and fits the image of a dog walking nicely on a lead.

Yes, that is possible, and it is completely natural.

The first clause says:

• Όταν γυρίζουμε σπίτι = When we return home

So we may refer to, for example, my family and I, my partner and I, or we in general.

Then the main clause says:

• ο σκύλος ... περπατάει ... δίπλα μου = the dog walks calmly beside me

That means the dog is physically next to me, even though we are the ones arriving home.

There is no contradiction. The group returns home, and the dog walks beside the speaker.

Yes, absolutely.

Depending on style, natural English translations include:

• when we return home
• when we get home
• when we come home

All of these can fit the Greek well.

Greek γυρίζουμε σπίτι often has the sense of coming back home, so when we get home is often the most natural everyday English translation, even if the Greek verb literally has the idea of returning.

Most likely a repeated pattern.

Clues:

• Όταν
  • present tense
• γυρίζουμε
• τραβάει
• περπατάει

This combination commonly describes what usually happens. So the sense is something like:

• Whenever we get home, the dog no longer pulls and walks calmly beside me.

If Greek wanted to highlight one single completed event more clearly, it would usually use different tense/aspect choices.