Πρώτα μετράω το αλεύρι σε γραμμάρια και μετά ζυγίζω το βούτυρο για το κέικ.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person.

Here:

• μετράω = I measure / I count
• ζυγίζω = I weigh

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

The present tense in Greek is often used for:

• habitual actions
• instructions
• recipe-style narration
• describing a sequence of actions in a vivid, natural way

So Πρώτα μετράω... και μετά ζυγίζω... can sound like:

• This is what I do
• First I do this, then I do that

If you were directly telling someone what to do, Greek would more naturally use the imperative:

• Πρώτα μέτρα το αλεύρι... και μετά ζύγισε το βούτυρο...

They are related, but not identical.

• μετράω = measure or count
• ζυγίζω = weigh

So:

• μετράω το αλεύρι σε γραμμάρια focuses on determining the quantity in grams
• ζυγίζω το βούτυρο specifically means weighing it, usually on a scale

In kitchen language, you could also use ζυγίζω for flour if you mean weighing it on a scale. The sentence just uses two slightly different verbs to describe the process.

They are time-order words:

• πρώτα = first
• μετά = then / afterwards

So Πρώτα... και μετά... means First... and then...

They help show the order of actions. This is very common in Greek when describing steps, routines, or instructions.

και μετά means and then, which sounds very natural when linking two actions.

• πρώτα μετράω... μετά ζυγίζω... = possible
• πρώτα μετράω... και μετά ζυγίζω... = a little smoother and more connected

The και simply links the two parts of the sentence.

Because all three nouns are neuter singular here, and Greek uses the definite article very often.

• το αλεύρι = the flour
• το βούτυρο = the butter
• το κέικ = the cake

Even with ingredients or mass nouns, Greek often includes the article where English might not always stress it in the same way. In this sentence, the speaker is referring to the specific flour and butter being used.

σε here means in, in the sense of in grams.

So:

• σε γραμμάρια = in grams

In Modern Greek, σε normally takes the accusative case.
γραμμάρια is the plural form of γραμμάριο (gram).

So the phrase literally means I measure the flour in grams.

Because when talking about units like grams, Greek normally uses the plural unless you mean exactly one gram.

So:

• σε γραμμάριο = in one gram
• σε γραμμάρια = in grams

That matches English usage too: we usually say in grams, not in gram.

Because the meaning is for the cake, not in/into the cake.

• για το κέικ = for the cake
• στο κέικ = in the cake / into the cake

So ζυγίζω το βούτυρο για το κέικ means the butter is intended for making the cake.
If you said στο κέικ, that would suggest location or movement into the cake, which is different.

Most naturally, it attaches to το βούτυρο:

• the butter for the cake

But in context, it also makes clear that the whole activity is part of making a cake. Greek often allows this kind of natural overlap, and the meaning is usually clear from context.

If you wanted to make the purpose of the whole sentence more explicit, you could say something like:

• για να φτιάξω το κέικ = to make the cake

κέικ is a loanword from English cake.

It is very common in Modern Greek, and it is usually treated as an indeclinable noun. That means the noun itself often stays the same, while the article shows the grammar:

• το κέικ
• του κέικ
• στο κέικ

So even if the noun doesn’t change, the article around it still does the grammatical work.

Yes. They are two forms of the same verb.

• μετράω
• μετρώ

Both mean I count / I measure.

In everyday speech, μετράω is very common and often sounds more conversational. μετρώ is also completely correct. You will see both.

Yes, Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

The sentence as written is very natural:

• Πρώτα μετράω το αλεύρι... και μετά ζυγίζω το βούτυρο...

But Greek can move parts around for emphasis. For example, πρώτα or μετά could be shifted. Still, not every rearrangement sounds equally natural, so the given version is a good neutral pattern to learn.

Because they are mass nouns, like flour and butter in English.

Greek usually treats substances like this as singular:

• το αλεύρι
• το βούτυρο

You would only use plural if you meant different kinds or varieties, which is a different idea.

Yes. If you are literally using a scale, ζυγίζω το αλεύρι is perfectly natural.

The original sentence uses:

• μετράω το αλεύρι σε γραμμάρια

This emphasizes the quantity or unit. But in real kitchen Greek, many speakers would also say ζυγίζω for flour. The exact choice depends on what the speaker wants to highlight.