Αφού τελείωσε η μπουγάδα, βγήκα στο μπαλκόνι με τα μανταλάκια για να κρεμάσω τα ρούχα στο σχοινί.

Here Αφού means after, introducing a time clause: After the laundry was finished...

But αφού does not always mean only after. In other contexts, it can also mean something like since or given that, depending on the sentence.

In this sentence, the time meaning is the natural one: Αφού τελείωσε η μπουγάδα = After the laundry was done

Because the subject here is η μπουγάδα.

• τελείωσε η μπουγάδα = the laundry finished / the laundry was done
• τελείωσα τη μπουγάδα = I finished the laundry

So the sentence is not focusing on I finished it, but on the event the laundry ended / was finished.

This is a very natural Greek way to say that the washing cycle or laundry process was over.

Η μπουγάδα means the laundry, the washing, or the load of clothes being washed.

It is a very common everyday word in Greek. Depending on context, it can refer to:

• the washing process
• the clothes that have been washed
• a load of laundry

So in this sentence it basically means the laundry was done.

Τελείωσε is the aorist tense, 3rd person singular, from τελειώνω.

The Greek aorist is commonly used for a single completed action in the past.

So:

• τελειώνει = it finishes / is finishing
• τελείωσε = it finished

Here it fits perfectly because the speaker is talking about one completed event: the laundry finished, and then they went to the balcony.

Βγήκα is the aorist of βγαίνω, which means to go out / come out.

So:

• βγαίνω = I go out / I am going out
• βγήκα = I went out

In this sentence: βγήκα στο μπαλκόνι = I went out onto the balcony

It is irregular, so learners usually just have to memorize that the aorist of βγαίνω is βγήκα.

Because Greek normally omits subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb ending already tells you the subject:

• βγήκα = I went out
• κρεμάσω = I hang / I may hang in this structure, understood as I

Greek only adds the pronoun εγώ if it wants emphasis or contrast.

So:

• βγήκα στο μπαλκόνι = normal, natural
• εγώ βγήκα στο μπαλκόνι = I went out onto the balcony, with extra emphasis

Literally it means with the clothespins / with the pegs.

Here με means with, and τα μανταλάκια is in the accusative plural because με takes the accusative in Modern Greek.

In context, με τα μανταλάκια can mean:

• carrying the clothespins with me
• having the clothespins with me

So the image is: the speaker went out to the balcony, bringing the pegs along in order to hang the clothes.

Yes, μανταλάκι contains the diminutive ending -άκι, and μανταλάκια is its plural.

However, in everyday Greek, μανταλάκι is just the normal word for a clothespin / clothes peg. Native speakers do not necessarily feel it strongly as a cute or special diminutive every time they use it.

So for a learner, the most useful thing is simply:

• το μανταλάκι = clothespin / peg
• τα μανταλάκια = clothespins / pegs

Για να introduces purpose. It means:

• in order to
• so that
• often just to

So: για να κρεμάσω τα ρούχα = to hang the clothes / in order to hang the clothes

This is a very common Greek structure: για να + subjunctive verb

Because after για να, Greek uses the subjunctive, not the plain dictionary form.

The verb here is:

• κρεμάω / κρεμώ = I hang
• να κρεμάσω = that I hang / for me to hang, aorist subjunctive

In this sentence, κρεμάσω is the natural choice because it refers to a single complete action: hanging up the clothes.

So:

• για να κρεμάσω τα ρούχα = to hang the clothes up

If you are learning Greek, it is very useful to remember:

• after να
• after για να

you use a subjunctive form, often based on the aorist for one complete action.

Because Greek σε + accusative covers a much wider range than any single English preposition.

στο is just σε + το.

Depending on context, σε can correspond to:

• to
• into
• onto
• in
• on
• at

So here:

• βγήκα στο μπαλκόνι = I went out onto the balcony
• κρεμάσω τα ρούχα στο σχοινί = hang the clothes on the line

English changes the preposition, but Greek often keeps σε.

Yes. Σχοινί literally means rope, cord, or string.

In everyday Greek, it can also mean a clothesline, especially from context. So: κρεμάσω τα ρούχα στο σχοινί means hang the clothes on the line.

A learner might translate it word-for-word as on the rope, but in natural English the meaning is on the clothesline.

Because ρούχα is the normal plural word for clothes.

Just like in English, clothes is usually plural, Greek also commonly uses the plural:

• το ρούχο = garment / item of clothing
• τα ρούχα = clothes

So: κρεμάσω τα ρούχα = hang the clothes

Greek uses the definite article more often than English.

In a sentence like this, the speaker is referring to specific, known things in the situation:

• the laundry
• the balcony
• the clothespins
• the clothes
• the line

Even where English might sometimes sound okay without an article in a general explanation, Greek very often keeps it.

So the repeated articles here are completely normal and natural Greek.

Yes, Greek word order is relatively flexible.

This sentence starts with: Αφού τελείωσε η μπουγάδα to set the time background first: After the laundry was done...

Then comes the main action: βγήκα στο μπαλκόνι...

That is a very natural narrative order.

You could move parts around for emphasis, but the given order is smooth and typical because it presents events in sequence:

1. the laundry finished
2. I went to the balcony
3. I intended to hang the clothes

So the word order helps the sentence feel clear and natural, not random.