Η γεύση της σούπας είναι καλύτερη με λίγο λεμόνι.

Because this sentence is built around the noun γεύση = taste/flavor.

So Greek is literally saying:

The taste of the soup is better with a little lemon.

English often prefers The soup tastes better with a little lemon, but Greek commonly uses the noun γεύση in this kind of sentence.

Both ideas are natural, but this sentence specifically focuses on the taste.

της σούπας means of the soup.

This is the genitive case, which is often used in Greek to show possession or association.

• η σούπα = the soup
• της σούπας = of the soup / the soup’s

So:

• Η γεύση της σούπας = the taste of the soup

This is very common in Greek:

• το χρώμα του αυτοκινήτου = the color of the car
• η πόρτα του σπιτιού = the door of the house

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English.

Here you have:

• Η γεύση = the taste
• της σούπας = of the soup

In English, we also say the taste of the soup, so this may feel normal here. But in general, Greek tends to use articles in many places where English might leave them out.

The forms here are:

• η = nominative feminine singular
• της = genitive feminine singular

Both agree with feminine nouns:

• γεύση
• σούπα

Because it agrees with γεύση, which is a feminine noun.

In Greek, adjectives usually agree with the noun they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here:

• η γεύση is feminine singular
• so the adjective is καλύτερη (feminine singular)

Compare:

• ο καφές είναι καλύτερος = the coffee is better
• η γεύση είναι καλύτερη = the taste is better
• το φαγητό είναι καλύτερο = the food is better

Yes. καλύτερη means better and is the comparative form of καλή / καλός / καλό = good.

So:

• καλός = good
• καλύτερος = better

And here, because γεύση is feminine:

• καλή → καλύτερη

This is an irregular comparative, similar to English good → better.

Yes, often it can.

Both of these can mean better:

• καλύτερη
• πιο καλή

In many everyday contexts, both are possible. However, καλύτερη is very natural and common, and it often sounds a bit more standard or compact.

So:

• Η γεύση της σούπας είναι καλύτερη...
• Η γεύση της σούπας είναι πιο καλή...

Both can work, though the first is the more elegant choice here.

Here λίγο means a little.

It is being used with λεμόνι in the sense of a little lemon / a bit of lemon juice/lemon flavor. Greek often uses the neuter singular form λίγο for this kind of quantity expression.

So:

• με λίγο λεμόνι = with a little lemon

This is very common with mass or uncountable ideas:

• λίγο νερό = a little water
• λίγο αλάτι = a little salt
• λίγο ψωμί = a little bread

Since λεμόνι is also a neuter noun, λίγο fits naturally here.

Not necessarily. In this sentence, λίγο λεμόνι usually means a little lemon, especially in the sense of:

• a little lemon juice
• a bit of lemon added to the soup
• some lemon flavor

So it is not usually understood as one whole lemon.

This is similar to English, where with a little lemon often really means with a little lemon juice.

Because Greek, like English, often leaves out the article when talking about an unspecified amount of something.

• με λίγο λεμόνι = with a little lemon

If you added an article, the meaning would change or sound more specific.

Here the idea is general and indefinite: not the lemon, but simply some lemon.

με means with.

So:

• με λίγο λεμόνι = with a little lemon

It introduces what is added or accompanies the soup.

Other examples:

• με ζάχαρη = with sugar
• με γάλα = with milk
• με αλάτι = with salt

είναι means is.

Greek usually needs the verb to be in a sentence like this:

• Η γεύση της σούπας είναι καλύτερη...
• The taste of the soup is better...

Unlike some languages, standard Modern Greek normally does not omit the verb είμαι in this kind of present-tense statement.

So είναι is necessary here.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English, although the original version is very natural.

Original:

• Η γεύση της σούπας είναι καλύτερη με λίγο λεμόνι.

You could also say:

• Με λίγο λεμόνι, η γεύση της σούπας είναι καλύτερη.

That puts more emphasis on with a little lemon.

The original order is neutral and straightforward.

The most natural understanding is:

The soup tastes better with a little lemon.

Even though the Greek literally says The taste of the soup is better with a little lemon, the meaning is practical and idiomatic: adding a little lemon improves the soup.

So a learner should understand both:

• the literal structure
• the natural English meaning

A helpful pronunciation guide is:

ee YEF-see tees SOO-pas EE-ne KAH-lee-teh-ree meh LEE-gho leh-MOH-nee

A few notes:

• γ before ε in γεύση sounds like a soft sound, somewhat like y in this rough guide.
• σούπας has the stress on σού.
• καλύτερη has the stress on λύ.
• λεμόνι has the stress on μό.

The written stress marks in Greek are very important for pronunciation.