Στη σαλάτα βάζω λίγο δυόσμο και ρίγανη, γιατί της δίνουν πιο φρέσκια γεύση.

Στη is the contracted form of σε + τη(ν).

• σε = in, to, at
• τη(ν) = the feminine singular article in the accusative

So στη σαλάτα means in the salad or to the salad.

A full form would be στην σαλάτα, but in modern Greek the final -ν is often dropped before many consonants, so στη σαλάτα is completely normal.

The noun σαλάτα is a feminine noun: η σαλάτα.

After σε, Greek uses the accusative case, so the full phrase is:

• nominative: η σαλάτα
• accusative: τη(ν) σαλάτα

For many feminine nouns ending in -α, the noun itself looks the same in nominative and accusative. The article is what shows the case most clearly.

So:

• η σαλάτα = the salad as subject
• στη σαλάτα = in the salad

Both are possible, but in a cooking context βάζω often means add.

Literally, βάζω is a very common verb meaning put, place, add.

Here, βάζω λίγο δυόσμο και ρίγανη most naturally means:

• I add a little mint and oregano

Also, because it is present tense, it can describe a habitual action:

• I add
• I usually add
• I’m adding

The exact English choice depends on context.

Λίγο is the neuter singular form, and Greek very often uses this form as a general quantifier meaning a little or some, especially with uncountable or substance-like nouns.

So you get phrases like:

• λίγο νερό = a little water
• λίγο αλάτι = a little salt
• λίγο δυόσμο = a little mint

In this sentence, λίγο is directly attached to δυόσμο and is also understood with ρίγανη.

A more fully repeated version could be:

• λίγο δυόσμο και λίγη ρίγανη

But Greek often avoids repeating the quantifier if the meaning is already clear.

Because these two nouns belong to different genders and declension patterns.

Their dictionary forms are:

• ο δυόσμος = mint
• η ρίγανη = oregano

Here they are direct objects of βάζω, so they appear in the accusative singular:

• ο δυόσμος → δυόσμο
• η ρίγανη → ρίγανη

So:

• masculine nouns like δυόσμος often lose the final -ς in the accusative singular
• feminine nouns like ρίγανη often look the same in nominative and accusative singular

Της refers back to τη σαλάτα.

So in:

• γιατί της δίνουν πιο φρέσκια γεύση

the meaning is:

• because they give the salad a fresher taste
• more naturally in English: because they give it a fresher taste

Since σαλάτα is feminine singular, the pronoun referring to it is also feminine singular.

This is a very common learner question.

With the verb δίνω (give), Greek often uses:

• a direct object
• plus an indirect object, often expressed by a weak genitive pronoun

In this sentence:

• πιο φρέσκια γεύση is what is being given
• της is the recipient: to it / to the salad

So Greek structures it as:

• they give to it a fresher taste

That is why Greek uses της rather than την.

You could think of της here as equivalent to:

• στη σαλάτα

So:

• της δίνουν πιο φρέσκια γεύση
• roughly = δίνουν στη σαλάτα πιο φρέσκια γεύση

Because the subject is plural.

The things doing the action are:

• δυόσμο και ρίγανη

That is a compound subject, so the verb becomes third person plural:

• δίνουν = they give

Even though each noun is singular by itself, together they make a plural idea:

• mint and oregano give...

There are two important points here.

1. πιο makes the comparative

   • φρέσκια = fresh
   • πιο φρέσκια = fresher / more fresh

2. φρέσκια agrees with γεύση
   The noun γεύση is feminine singular, so the adjective must also be feminine singular.

So:

• γεύση = taste, flavor
• φρέσκια γεύση = fresh taste
• πιο φρέσκια γεύση = fresher taste

Also note that γεύση is the direct object of δίνουν, but for this noun the accusative singular looks the same as the nominative.

Yes.

Greek has two common ways to form the comparative:

• πιο + adjective
• a synthetic comparative such as -ότερος / -ότερη / -ότερο

So both are possible:

• πιο φρέσκια γεύση
• φρεσκότερη γεύση

In everyday modern Greek, πιο + adjective is extremely common and often feels simpler and more natural in ordinary speech.

Because γεύση here is indefinite.

Greek often leaves out the article when talking about something non-specific or when the noun is part of a predicate-like expression after a verb.

So:

• δίνουν πιο φρέσκια γεύση = they give a fresher taste

If you added the article, τη γεύση, it would sound more specific, as if you meant a particular known taste. In this sentence, the idea is general, so no article is the natural choice.

Greek word order is flexible.

Starting with Στη σαλάτα sets the topic first:

• As for the salad, I add...
• In the salad, I add...

This is very natural in Greek, especially when the speaker wants to establish the context first.

A more neutral alternative would be:

• Βάζω λίγο δυόσμο και ρίγανη στη σαλάτα...

Both are correct. The original just puts a little more focus on the salad as the context.