Όταν πάω στο σούπερ μάρκετ, προσπαθώ να μην ξοδεύω άσκοπα.

When I go to the supermarket, I try not to spend wastefully.

Breakdown of Όταν πάω στο σούπερ μάρκετ, προσπαθώ να μην ξοδεύω άσκοπα.

• πάω: to go
• να: to
• σε: to
• το σούπερ μάρκετ: the supermarket

Questions & Answers about Όταν πάω στο σούπερ μάρκετ, προσπαθώ να μην ξοδεύω άσκοπα.

What does όταν mean in this sentence?

Όταν means when. It introduces a time clause:

Όταν πάω στο σούπερ μάρκετ = When I go to the supermarket

Depending on context, όταν can also feel like whenever or every time that, so this sentence can naturally describe a repeated habit.

Why is it πάω and not πηγαίνω?

This is about aspect, which is very important in Greek.

• πάω presents the trip as a whole event
• πηγαίνω presents it more as an ongoing or habitual action

So:

• Όταν πάω στο σούπερ μάρκετ = when I go / when I make a trip to the supermarket
• Όταν πηγαίνω στο σούπερ μάρκετ = when I go / whenever I am going to the supermarket, with a slightly more habitual feel

In everyday speech, both can be natural here. The version with πάω treats each supermarket visit as a complete occasion.

Is πάω a present tense form here?

It is a non-past form. In practical terms, you can understand όταν πάω as when I go.

A useful thing for learners is that πάω is also the form you see after να, as in να πάω. After words like όταν, Greek often uses this same kind of form to refer to a future or repeated event.

So you do not need to overthink the label at first: here it simply means when I go.