Δεν μπορώ να περάσω το νήμα στη βελόνα χωρίς τα γυαλιά μου.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already tells you who the subject is. Μπορώ already means I can, so εγώ is not needed.

You would add εγώ only for emphasis or contrast, for example: Εγώ δεν μπορώ, αλλά αυτός μπορεί = I can’t, but he can.

Δεν is the standard negation word for a finite verb in Modern Greek. It makes μπορώ negative:

• μπορώ = I can
• δεν μπορώ = I can’t

It normally comes right before the finite verb, so Δεν μπορώ is the natural order.

After μπορώ, Greek uses να plus another verb. So:

• μπορώ να... = I can / I am able to...

Modern Greek does not usually use an infinitive the way English does. Instead of something like I can to thread, Greek says μπορώ να περάσω.

So να introduces the dependent verb form that English learners are often taught as the subjunctive structure.

No. Modern Greek does not normally have an infinitive in everyday use. Περάσω here is a verb form used after να.

The dictionary form of the verb is usually given as περνάω or περνώ.
Its aorist stem gives περάσω in this kind of structure:

• περνάω / περνώ = I pass / I am passing
• να περάσω = to pass, in the sense of one complete act after να

So English uses an infinitive, but Greek uses να + verb instead.

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

Να περάσω uses the aorist form, which presents the action as a single complete event. That fits this sentence well, because threading a needle is seen as one whole action.

If you said να περνάω, it would suggest something more ongoing, repeated, or habitual, which sounds less natural here.

So:

• να περάσω = to do it once, successfully
• να περνάω = to be doing it repeatedly / habitually / in an ongoing way

Literally, it means something like pass the thread into the needle or through the needle.

Greek commonly uses the verb περνάω / περνώ for the idea of threading something through a small opening. So instead of a single verb exactly matching English to thread, Greek often expresses it with pass the thread into/through the needle.

The eye of the needle is understood and does not need to be stated.

Στη is a contraction of σε + τη.

• σε = to, in, at, into, on
• τη = the, feminine accusative singular

So:

• σε τη βελόνα becomes στη βελόνα

This kind of contraction is very common in Greek:

• στο = σε + το
• στη = σε + τη
• στον = σε + τον

Σε is a very flexible preposition. Depending on context, it can mean in, at, to, onto, or into.

Here, with the action of threading, στη βελόνα is understood as into the needle or through the eye of the needle.

So the exact English preposition depends on context, not just on the Greek word by itself.

After σε, Greek normally uses the accusative. So here it is τη βελόνα in the accusative.

But with many feminine nouns ending in -α, the nominative and accusative singular look the same:

• η βελόνα = the needle, nominative
• τη βελόνα = the needle, accusative

So the article shows the case more clearly than the noun ending does.

Χωρίς takes the accusative in Modern Greek.

So in this sentence:

• χωρίς τα γυαλιά μου = without my glasses

The form τα γυαλιά is accusative plural. In this particular noun, the accusative plural looks the same as the nominative plural.

Because γυαλιά means glasses / spectacles, and in Greek this is normally a plural noun, just like in English.

So:

• το γυαλί usually means glass, a piece of glass, or a glass object
• τα γυαλιά means glasses / eyeglasses

If you want to talk about the thing you wear to see better, the normal word is the plural γυαλιά.

Greek normally uses the definite article with possessed nouns. So my glasses is usually:

• τα γυαλιά μου

This is very normal Greek. English often omits the in this kind of phrase, but Greek usually keeps it.

You will see this pattern a lot:

• το βιβλίο μου = my book
• η αδερφή μου = my sister
• τα κλειδιά μου = my keys

The weak possessive forms in Greek usually come after the noun:

• τα γυαλιά μου = my glasses
• το σπίτι μου = my house

This is the normal position.

If you want extra emphasis, Greek can use a stronger form such as δικά μου, for example: τα δικά μου γυαλιά = my own glasses / my glasses in particular

But in an ordinary sentence, τα γυαλιά μου is exactly what you expect.

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

The sentence as written is neutral and natural: Δεν μπορώ να περάσω το νήμα στη βελόνα χωρίς τα γυαλιά μου.

But you could also say: Χωρίς τα γυαλιά μου δεν μπορώ να περάσω το νήμα στη βελόνα.

That puts more emphasis on without my glasses.

Even though word order is flexible, some small words stay closely tied to the verb:

• δεν goes before the finite verb
• να goes before the dependent verb

No. Another very common word is κλωστή.

Very roughly:

• νήμα = thread, strand, filament, line
• κλωστή = thread, especially ordinary sewing thread

In a sewing context, many speakers might naturally say κλωστή, but νήμα is also understandable and correct. The exact choice can depend on context, style, and speaker preference.

At the beginning of a word, μπ is usually pronounced like English b.

So μπορώ is pronounced roughly like bor-O, with the stress on the last syllable.

This is a useful spelling rule to remember:

• word-initial μπ often sounds like b
• inside a word, μπ may sound like mb or b, depending on the speaker and word

So in this sentence, μπορώ begins with a normal b sound.