Η πεθερά μου λέει ότι ο γιος της ήταν πολύ ζωηρός μικρός, αλλά τώρα είναι πιο ήρεμος.

Πεθερά means mother-in-law. In this sentence, η πεθερά μου means my mother-in-law.

A useful related word pair:

• πεθερά = mother-in-law
• πεθερός = father-in-law

Greek usually uses the definite article with nouns much more often than English does. So η πεθερά μου is the normal way to say my mother-in-law.

Literally, it looks like:

• η = the
• πεθερά = mother-in-law
• μου = my

Even with possessives like my, Greek often keeps the article:

• η μητέρα μου = my mother
• ο αδερφός μου = my brother

In Greek, short possessive words like μου (my), σου (your), της (her) usually come after the noun.

So:

• η πεθερά μου = my mother-in-law
• ο φίλος μου = my friend
• το σπίτι μου = my house

This is completely normal Greek word order.

Ότι means that and introduces a subordinate clause.

So:

• λέει ότι... = she says that...

In English, that is often optional. Greek can sometimes omit ότι too in casual speech, but using it is very common and clear.

Ο γιος της means her son.

Breakdown:

• ο = the
• γιος = son
• της = her

Again, Greek often uses:

• article + noun + possessive

So instead of putting her before the noun, Greek usually puts της after it.

Here της means her, and it refers to η πεθερά μου.

So the sentence means that my mother-in-law says that her son... In context, that son is usually her child, who may also be the speaker’s husband.

Because ο γιος της is the subject of the clause ήταν πολύ ζωηρός μικρός.

He is the one who was lively, so Greek uses the nominative:

• ο γιος = the son / son as subject

If he were a direct object, you would expect a different form, for example:

• βλέπω τον γιο της = I see her son

Ήταν is the imperfect form of είμαι (to be), and here it means was.

It is used because the sentence talks about a past state:

• ήταν πολύ ζωηρός μικρός = he was very lively when he was little

So Greek is contrasting:

• past: ήταν
• present: είναι

Ζωηρός means something like:

• lively
• energetic
• active

When talking about a child, it can sometimes also suggest very spirited or even a bit wild/mischievous, depending on tone. It does not necessarily mean something negative.

Here μικρός does not literally mean small in the physical sense. It means when he was little/young.

So:

• ήταν πολύ ζωηρός μικρός = he was very lively as a child / when he was little

Greek often uses an adjective like this without adding a whole extra clause such as:

• όταν ήταν μικρός = when he was little

Both ideas are possible, but the sentence here is shorter and very natural.

Because they agree with ο γιος, which is:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative

Greek adjectives must agree with the noun they describe.

So:

• ο γιος → masculine singular
• ζωηρός, μικρός, ήρεμος → also masculine singular

If the noun were feminine, the adjective would change:

• η κόρη = the daughter
• ζωηρή, μικρή, ήρεμη

Πιο ήρεμος means calmer / more calm.

Greek often makes comparisons with:

• πιο + adjective = more + adjective

So:

• πιο ήρεμος = calmer / more calm
• πιο μεγάλος = bigger
• πιο καλός = better/more good in form

There are also some single-word comparative forms in Greek, but πιο + adjective is extremely common and natural.

Τώρα means now. It sets up the contrast with the earlier past description.

So the structure is:

• in the past: he was very lively when little
• but now: he is calmer

The word αλλά means but, so αλλά τώρα gives a clear contrast.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are already clear from the context. This is called a pro-drop language.

So instead of saying:

• ...αλλά τώρα αυτός είναι πιο ήρεμος

Greek usually just says:

• ...αλλά τώρα είναι πιο ήρεμος

The subject is understood to be ο γιος της.

Because the speaker is talking about what the mother-in-law says now.

So the timeline is:

• λέει = she says / is saying
• inside what she says:
  • ήταν = he was
  • είναι = he is

This is very normal: the main verb can be present, while the reported information includes both past and present.

Yes, in everyday Greek it is often possible to omit ότι after verbs like λέω, especially in speech.

So you may hear:

• Η πεθερά μου λέει ο γιος της ήταν πολύ ζωηρός μικρός...

However, λέει ότι... is fully correct, very common, and often clearer for learners.

Not completely. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order, although the given version is very natural.

For example, the sentence could be rearranged slightly for emphasis, but:

• Η πεθερά μου λέει ότι ο γιος της ήταν πολύ ζωηρός μικρός, αλλά τώρα είναι πιο ήρεμος.

is a standard, neutral way to say it.

Greek often changes word order to highlight certain information, but the grammar endings still show how the words relate to each other.