Μετά το φαγητό σκουπίζω το τραπέζι με ένα πανί.

Because Greek often drops the subject pronoun when it is clear from the verb ending.

σκουπίζω means I wipe / I am wiping, so εγώ (I) is not necessary.

You could say:

Εγώ σκουπίζω το τραπέζι...

but that usually adds emphasis, like I’m the one who wipes the table.

σκουπίζω is the 1st person singular present tense form of the verb σκουπίζω.

Here it means:

• I wipe
• or I am wiping

In Greek, the present tense can cover both the simple present and the present continuous, depending on context.

Also, σκουπίζω can mean different things depending on the object:

• σκουπίζω το τραπέζι = wipe the table
• σκουπίζω το πάτωμα = sweep / wipe the floor

In Modern Greek, μετά meaning after is followed by the accusative.

So:

• μετά το φαγητό = after the meal / after eating

This is a very common pattern:

• μετά το μάθημα = after the lesson
• μετά τη δουλειά = after work
• μετά το δείπνο = after dinner

So the structure is:

μετά + accusative noun

It can mean both in different contexts.

• φαγητό = food
• but in μετά το φαγητό, it very often means after the meal or after eating

So although the basic noun is related to food, the phrase usually has the sense of after the meal in natural English.

Because both nouns are neuter singular, and το is the definite article for neuter singular nouns in the nominative and accusative.

Here:

• το φαγητό = the meal / the food
• το τραπέζι = the table

Greek articles must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Because it is the direct object of the verb σκουπίζω.

You are wiping the table, so the table receives the action.

In Greek, direct objects normally go in the accusative case.

Here, τραπέζι is a neuter noun, and many neuter nouns have the same form in nominative and accusative singular, so you do not see a change in the noun itself. The article is also το in both nominative and accusative singular for neuter nouns.

They are different words:

• μετά = after
• με = with

So in this sentence:

• Μετά το φαγητό = After the meal
• με ένα πανί = with a cloth

This is a very common thing for learners to mix up, so it is good to notice it early.

με here means with, in the sense of using something as a tool or instrument.

So:

• με ένα πανί = with a cloth
• literally, using a cloth

This is how Greek commonly expresses the tool used to do something:

• γράφω με μολύβι = I write with a pencil
• κόβω με μαχαίρι = I cut with a knife

Because ένα is the indefinite article, meaning a or one.

So:

• ένα πανί = a cloth
• το πανί = the cloth

The sentence is not referring to one specific known cloth, so ένα πανί is natural.

Also, πανί is neuter, so the indefinite article is ένα.

Yes, πανί is a normal word meaning cloth, rag, or piece of fabric, depending on context.

In this sentence, it means a cloth used for wiping.

So με ένα πανί sounds natural for with a cloth.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English.

This sentence begins with the time phrase:

Μετά το φαγητό σκουπίζω το τραπέζι με ένα πανί.

That is perfectly natural.

But you could also hear things like:

• Σκουπίζω το τραπέζι με ένα πανί μετά το φαγητό.
• Το τραπέζι το σκουπίζω με ένα πανί μετά το φαγητό.

The meaning stays similar, but the focus or emphasis may shift.

Putting Μετά το φαγητό first makes the time frame clear right away.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Greek present tense can express:

• something happening now
• a habitual action
• a general routine

So this sentence could mean:

• I’m wiping the table with a cloth after the meal
  or
• After the meal, I wipe the table with a cloth

Without more context, both are possible. Very often, a sentence like this is understood as a habit or routine.

A comma is not required here.

Short introductory phrases often appear without a comma in Greek, especially in simple everyday sentences.

You may also see:

Μετά το φαγητό, σκουπίζω το τραπέζι με ένα πανί.

That is also fine. The version without the comma is very natural.

A rough pronunciation would be:

meh-TAH to fa-yee-TO skoo-PEE-zo to tra-PE-zee me EH-na pa-NEE

A few useful notes:

• γ in φαγητό here sounds like a y sound
• ζ in σκουπίζω sounds like z
• stress matters a lot in Greek:
  • μετά
  • φαγητό
  • σκουπίζω
  • τραπέζι
  • πανί

Yes, they are all singular:

• το φαγητό = the meal
• το τραπέζι = the table
• ένα πανί = a cloth

And all three nouns are also neuter.

That is why you see:

• το with φαγητό
• το with τραπέζι
• ένα with πανί

More or less, yes:

• Μετά = after
• το φαγητό = the meal / the food
• σκουπίζω = I wipe
• το τραπέζι = the table
• με = with
• ένα πανί = a cloth

So the structure is very close to English:

After the meal, I wipe the table with a cloth.

But in natural usage, το φαγητό is often better understood as the meal rather than just the food.