Ψάχνω κάπου να καθίσω κοντά στην πύλη μέχρι να αρχίσει η επιβίβαση.

Modern Greek does not use an infinitive the way English does. Instead, it usually uses να + a finite verb.

So:

• να καθίσω = to sit / to sit down
• literally, it is something like that I sit

In this sentence, Ψάχνω κάπου να καθίσω means I’m looking for somewhere to sit.

καθίσω is the aorist subjunctive form, used here after να. It refers to a single, complete action: to sit down / to take a seat.

By contrast:

• κάθομαι = I am sitting / I sit
• να κάθομαι would suggest an ongoing state or repeated action

In a sentence like I’m looking for somewhere to sit, Greek normally uses the aorist form because the idea is finding a place and taking a seat, not emphasizing the duration of sitting.

In everyday speech, many speakers would also say να κάτσω, which is very common and natural.

κάπου means somewhere.

So:

• Ψάχνω κάπου = I’m looking for somewhere

It is an indefinite place word, just like English somewhere. It does not name a specific location.

It actually does have something filling that role in meaning: κάπου να καθίσω.

The idea is:

• Ψάχνω = I’m looking for
• κάπου να καθίσω = somewhere to sit

So the whole chunk κάπου να καθίσω works as what is being looked for.

Greek often allows this kind of structure very naturally.

Sometimes yes, but not in exactly the same way.

Greek has both:

• ψάχνω κάτι = I’m looking for something
• ψάχνω για κάτι = also I’m looking for something

But with κάπου να καθίσω, the version without για is the most natural here:

• Ψάχνω κάπου να καθίσω = natural

A version with για would usually need a different structure and would sound less straightforward in this sentence.

Because κοντά here is followed by σε to mean near / close to a place.

• σε την πύλη contracts to στην πύλη

So:

• κοντά στην πύλη = near the gate

This is a very common contraction:

• σε + τη → στη
• σε + την → στην
• σε + το → στο

It is in the accusative singular.

The dictionary form is:

• η πύλη = the gate

After σε (here hidden inside στην), nouns normally take the accusative:

• στην πύλη = at/to the gate

So although English says near the gate, Greek uses the structure close to the gate.

Greek uses the definite article more often than English.

Here:

• στην πύλη = near the gate
• η επιβίβαση = the boarding

In context, these are specific:

• a specific gate
• the boarding process for that flight

So the article sounds completely natural.

μέχρι να means until followed by a verb.

Examples:

• μέχρι να έρθει = until he/she comes
• μέχρι να τελειώσει = until it finishes

So here:

• μέχρι να αρχίσει η επιβίβαση = until boarding starts

Again, Greek uses να + verb where English just uses a plain finite verb after until.

Because after μέχρι να, Greek often uses the aorist subjunctive when the action is seen as a single event.

• να αρχίσει = to start / for it to start
• να αρχίζει would suggest a more ongoing or repeated sense

Since boarding starting is a single event, να αρχίσει is the natural choice.

The subject is η επιβίβαση.

So the clause means:

• until the boarding starts

Grammatically:

• η επιβίβαση = subject
• αρχίσει = verb

That is why the verb is singular.

η επιβίβαση means boarding.

It is a noun, not a verb. In travel contexts, it refers to the process of passengers getting on the plane, ferry, bus, etc.

So:

• να αρχίσει η επιβίβαση = for boarding to begin

Most likely, yes.

πύλη literally means gate, and in travel contexts it commonly means:

• airport gate
• boarding gate

Because the sentence also mentions η επιβίβαση, the airport meaning is the most natural one here.

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible, although some orders sound more natural than others.

The original sentence is very natural:

• Ψάχνω κάπου να καθίσω κοντά στην πύλη μέχρι να αρχίσει η επιβίβαση.

You could also hear variations such as:

• Ψάχνω κάπου κοντά στην πύλη να καθίσω...

That still makes sense, but the original order is clear and smooth.

It is neutral and natural Greek.

The only thing worth noting is that in very everyday spoken Greek, many people would say:

• Ψάχνω κάπου να κάτσω...

instead of

• Ψάχνω κάπου να καθίσω...

Both are correct and natural, but να κάτσω is more colloquial in everyday speech.

Strictly speaking, the aorist form καθίσω often has the sense sit down / take a seat.

But in English, when we say find somewhere to sit, we usually do not make a strong distinction between sit and sit down. So in this sentence, να καθίσω is exactly what Greek normally uses.

If you translated it very literally, it would be close to:

• I’m looking for somewhere to sit down near the gate until boarding begins.

But idiomatic English usually just says somewhere to sit.