Breakdown of Η φίλη μου είπε ότι το βαφτιστήρι της γκρινιάζει όταν νυστάζει.
η φίλη
the female friend
μου
my
ότι
that
όταν
when
Questions & Answers about Η φίλη μου είπε ότι το βαφτιστήρι της γκρινιάζει όταν νυστάζει.
Why is it η φίλη μου and not just φίλη μου?
In Greek, a possessed noun is very often used with the definite article. So η φίλη μου is the normal way to say my friend.
Literally, it is closer to the friend of mine, but that is just how Greek structures it. English usually drops the article here; Greek usually keeps it.
Why does μου come after φίλη?
The short possessive pronouns μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους usually come after the noun they belong to:
η φίλη μου = my friend
το σπίτι της = her house
This is the standard pattern in everyday Greek.
What does της refer to here?
της means her. In this sentence, it most naturally refers to η φίλη μου.
So:
το βαφτιστήρι της = her godchild
In a bigger conversation, της could in theory refer to some other woman already mentioned, but in this sentence by itself, my friend is the obvious reference.
Why is it το βαφτιστήρι? Why is the word neuter?