Πριν από την απογείωση, η αεροσυνοδός είπε ότι το αεροπλάνο απογειώνεται σε λίγα λεπτά.

Πριν από means before.

In this sentence, it is used as a preposition before a noun phrase:

• πριν από την απογείωση = before the takeoff

Greek can also sometimes use just πριν, especially before a clause:

• πριν φύγω = before I leave

With nouns, both πριν από + accusative and sometimes πριν + accusative can be heard, but πριν από την απογείωση is a very standard, clear form.

Because από here is followed by the accusative case, and απογείωση is a feminine noun.

So:

• nominative: η απογείωση
• accusative: την απογείωση

The article changes to show the noun’s role in the sentence. After πριν από, you normally expect the accusative:

• πριν από την πτήση = before the flight
• πριν από το μάθημα = before the lesson

Απογείωση is a noun meaning takeoff.

It comes from the verb απογειώνομαι, which means to take off.

So the sentence contains both:

• την απογείωση = the takeoff (noun)
• απογειώνεται = takes off / is taking off (verb)

This is very common in Greek: a noun and a related verb can appear together in the same sentence.

Yes. Η αεροσυνοδός means the flight attendant here, and it is feminine in this sentence.

A few useful points:

• η = feminine singular the
• αεροσυνοδός can refer to a female flight attendant
• the masculine form is often ο αεροσυνοδός

So:

• η αεροσυνοδός = the female flight attendant
• ο αεροσυνοδός = the male flight attendant

English uses flight attendant for either gender, but Greek usually marks gender in the article, and often in the noun as well.

Είπε is the simple past form of λέω (to say / to tell).

So:

• λέει = he/she says
• είπε = he/she said

In this sentence:

• η αεροσυνοδός είπε = the flight attendant said

This is one of the very common irregular past forms in Greek, so it is worth memorizing.

Ότι means that and introduces a content clause, just like English that in:

• She said that the plane...

So:

• είπε ότι... = said that...

Greek often uses ότι or πως in this kind of sentence:

• Είπε ότι θα έρθει.
• Είπε πως θα έρθει.

Both are common. In your sentence, ότι is completely natural.

This is a very common question, because Greek often uses the present tense for a scheduled or very near future event.

So:

• το αεροπλάνο απογειώνεται σε λίγα λεπτά literally looks like
• the plane is taking off in a few minutes

But the meaning is more naturally:

• the plane takes off in a few minutes
• the plane is taking off in a few minutes
• the plane will take off in a few minutes

Greek does this especially with timetables, announcements, and scheduled events.

For example:

• Το τρένο φεύγει στις οχτώ. = The train leaves at eight.
• Η πτήση αναχωρεί σε δέκα λεπτά. = The flight departs in ten minutes.

A future form such as θα απογειωθεί is also possible in Greek, but the present tense sounds very natural in this kind of announcement.

It has a middle/passive form, but here the meaning is active: takes off.

Greek has many verbs that appear in middle/passive forms but are translated actively in English. Απογειώνομαι is one of them.

So:

• το αεροπλάνο απογειώνεται = the plane takes off

It does not mean that someone is taking the plane off in a passive sense. It is simply the normal verb form used for the plane’s action.

This is something English speakers often need to get used to: Greek form and English translation do not always match one-to-one.

Σε λίγα λεπτά means in a few minutes.

Breakdown:

• σε = in
• λίγα = few
• λεπτά = minutes

So literally:

• in few minutes

Greek uses σε for time expressions like this:

• σε μία ώρα = in one hour
• σε δύο μέρες = in two days
• σε λίγο = soon / in a little while

So σε λίγα λεπτά is the normal way to say in a few minutes.

Because it has to agree with λεπτά.

• λεπτά is neuter plural
• so the word for few also appears in the neuter plural form: λίγα

Compare:

• λίγος χρόνος = little time / not much time
• λίγη ώρα = a little time / a short while
• λίγα λεπτά = a few minutes

Agreement is very important in Greek: adjectives and words like λίγος/λίγη/λίγο change to match the noun.

Because Πριν από την απογείωση is an introductory phrase at the beginning of the sentence:

• Before the takeoff, the flight attendant said...

The comma helps separate that opening time expression from the main clause.

In Greek, punctuation around introductory phrases is often similar to English. You may sometimes see slight variation in informal writing, but the comma here is completely normal and helpful.

Yes. Greek allows some natural alternatives.

For example:

• Πριν από την απογείωση, η αεροσυνοδός είπε πως το αεροπλάνο απογειώνεται σε λίγα λεπτά.
• Πριν την απογείωση, η αεροσυνοδός είπε ότι το αεροπλάνο θα απογειωθεί σε λίγα λεπτά.

These versions are close in meaning, but your original sentence is very natural.

The main differences are:

• ότι / πως = both can mean that
• απογειώνεται = present used for near future/scheduled action
• θα απογειωθεί = explicit future

So the exact wording can vary, but the structure and meaning remain essentially the same.