Όταν έχει παγετό, οδηγώ πιο αργά και πατάω το φρένο πιο νωρίς.

In Greek, όταν can introduce both:

• a specific time: when
• a repeated/habitual situation: whenever

In this sentence, the verbs are in the present tense and the meaning is general, so Όταν έχει παγετό is understood as:

• When/Whenever there is frost
• more naturally in English here: Whenever it’s frosty / when there’s frost

So even though Greek uses όταν, the overall sentence shows that this is a repeated habit, not one single event.

Έχει παγετό is an idiomatic Greek weather expression. Literally, it means it has frost, but naturally it means:

• there is frost
• it’s frosty
• there are icy conditions

Greek often uses έχει with weather or environmental conditions:

• έχει κρύο = it’s cold
• έχει ζέστη = it’s hot
• έχει αέρα = it’s windy
• έχει παγετό = there is frost / it’s frosty

So this is just the normal Greek way to say it.

Οδηγώ is:

• 1st person singular
• present tense
• from the verb οδηγώ = to drive

So it means I drive or I am driving, depending on context.

Here, because the sentence is about a general habit, it means:

• I drive more slowly

not necessarily I am driving right now.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

For example:

• οδηγώ = I drive
• πατάω = I press

So εγώ is not needed unless you want extra emphasis or contrast.

Compare:

• Οδηγώ πιο αργά. = I drive more slowly.
• Εγώ οδηγώ πιο αργά. = I’m the one who drives more slowly / I drive more slowly

The second version sounds more emphatic.

Because αργά is an adverb here: it describes how you drive.

• αργός / αργή / αργό = slow (adjective)
• αργά = slowly / late (adverb, depending on context)

Since οδηγώ is a verb, Greek needs the adverb:

• οδηγώ πιο αργά = I drive more slowly

Here πιο means more, so:

• πιο αργά = more slowly

Here it means slowly.

The word αργά can mean different things depending on context:

• Έφτασα αργά. = I arrived late.
• Οδηγώ αργά. = I drive slowly.

Because the verb is οδηγώ, the meaning is clearly slowly, not late.

Literally, it means I press the brake.

In natural English, that would usually be:

• I brake
• I press the brake
• I hit the brakes
• I apply the brake earlier

Greek often uses πατάω with pedals, buttons, switches, etc.:

• πατάω το κουμπί = press the button
• πατάω το γκάζι = press the accelerator
• πατάω το φρένο = press the brake

So this is a very normal expression.

Greek commonly uses the singular το φρένο to mean the braking control in a general sense.

So:

• πατάω το φρένο = literally press the brake

In English, we often prefer the brakes in this kind of context, but Greek does not need to match English exactly. The singular is perfectly natural here.

Πιο νωρίς means earlier.

Word by word:

• πιο = more
• νωρίς = early

So:

• πιο νωρίς = earlier

In this sentence, it means:

• I press the brake earlier
• understood as earlier than usual or sooner

It is an adverb phrase, because it describes when the action happens.

Because Greek uses the present tense very naturally for habits, routines, and general truths.

So this sentence means something like:

• Whenever there is frost, I drive more slowly and brake earlier.

This is not about one single moment. It is about what the speaker generally does in that situation.

English does the same thing:

• When it’s icy, I drive more slowly.

That is present tense, but it describes a repeated habit.

Because the sentence begins with a subordinate clause:

• Όταν έχει παγετό = When there is frost

Then comes the main clause:

• οδηγώ πιο αργά και πατάω το φρένο πιο νωρίς

The comma separates the opening when-clause from the main statement. This is very standard in Greek punctuation, just as it often is in English.

Yes. Both πατάω and πατώ exist.

• πατάω is very common in everyday speech
• πατώ is a shorter alternative, also correct

So you may see:

• πατάω το φρένο
• πατώ το φρένο

Both mean the same thing: I press the brake.

It is about a repeated action, a habit.

Clues that show this:

• όταν introduces a general condition
• the verbs are in the present tense
• the meaning is something the speaker regularly does in frosty conditions

So the sense is:

• Whenever there is frost, I drive more slowly and brake earlier

not:

• When there was frost that one time, I drove more slowly...