Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου στο σκοτάδι.

Yes, ξεχωρίζω often means separate, distinguish, or stand out, but in this sentence it means something like make out clearly or distinguish visually.

So Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου means: I can’t make out your face well / clearly.

This is a common Greek use of ξεχωρίζω when talking about seeing, hearing, or identifying something with difficulty.

In Modern Greek, the basic negative particle used with indicative verbs is δεν.

So:

• ξεχωρίζω = I distinguish / I make out
• δεν ξεχωρίζω = I do not distinguish / I can’t make out

Greek does not use do as English does, so δεν + verb is enough.

Also, Greek often uses the simple present where English might prefer can’t in translation. So Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά is very naturally translated as I can’t make it out clearly, even though the Greek literally looks more like I don’t distinguish it well.

Greek often uses the present tense for something happening right now, especially to describe a current inability or difficulty.

So Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου στο σκοτάδι means: I can’t make out your face well in the dark right now / in these conditions.

English might sometimes choose I can’t see your face clearly, but Greek naturally uses the present ξεχωρίζω.

Καλά is an adverb here, meaning well.

It modifies the verb ξεχωρίζω:

• ξεχωρίζω καλά = I distinguish well / I make out clearly
• δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά = I don’t make out clearly

A learner might expect καλώς, but in Modern Greek καλά is the normal everyday adverb form here.

In Modern Greek, possessive weak forms like μου, σου, του, της usually come after the noun.

So:

• το πρόσωπό σου = your face
• literally: the face your

This is a normal Greek structure.

You can think of σου here as a clitic possessive, not as an independent adjective like English your.

This is because of Greek stress rules with enclitic words like σου.

Normally the noun is:

• το πρόσωπο

But when an enclitic possessive follows:

• το πρόσωπό σου

An extra accent is written to preserve the correct pronunciation pattern.

This does not change the meaning. It is still the same noun, just written with an extra accent because σου is attached closely in speech.

You will see this with many nouns:

• το τηλέφωνο → το τηλέφωνό μου
• ο άνθρωπος → ο άνθρωπός μου

Because ξεχωρίζω can take a direct object when it means distinguish / make out.

So:

• ξεχωρίζω το πρόσωπό σου = I make out your face
• δεν ξεχωρίζω το πρόσωπό σου = I can’t make out your face

English sometimes uses extra words like make out or distinguish, but Greek simply uses the verb directly with the object.

Στο σκοτάδι means in the dark.

It is made of:

• σε = in / at / to
• το = the
• στο = contraction of σε + το
• σκοτάδι = darkness / the dark

So literally:

• στο σκοτάδι = in the darkness
• naturally: in the dark

Greek often uses the article where English may or may not use one.

Here, στο σκοτάδι is the natural idiomatic expression for in the dark.

Using σε σκοτάδι would sound less natural in this context. Greek prefers the definite article in many common expressions of place or condition.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English, although some orders sound more natural depending on emphasis.

The neutral version is:

• Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου στο σκοτάδι.

But you could also hear:

• Στο σκοτάδι δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου. This emphasizes in the dark.
• Το πρόσωπό σου δεν το ξεχωρίζω καλά στο σκοτάδι. This gives extra emphasis to your face.

So the original order is natural and neutral, but other versions are possible.

In this sentence, it most naturally means I can’t make out your face clearly because of poor visibility.

That is closer to:

• I can’t see your face well
• I can’t make out your face in the dark

It does not primarily mean I don’t recognize you in the sense of not knowing who you are. For that idea, Greek might use other wording depending on context.

So here the problem is visual clarity, not personal recognition.

Yes, absolutely. That would also be natural.

Compare:

• Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου στο σκοτάδι. = I can’t make out your face well in the dark. Slightly more immediate and direct.

• Δεν μπορώ να ξεχωρίσω καλά το πρόσωπό σου στο σκοτάδι. = I’m not able to make out your face well in the dark. This explicitly uses can / be able to.

Both are correct. The original sentence is very idiomatic and natural.

Yes. Το πρόσωπο is the standard word for face.

It can also mean person in more formal or abstract contexts, but in a sentence like this it clearly means face.

So:

• το πρόσωπό σου = your face

A few natural translations would be:

• I can’t make out your face clearly in the dark.
• I can’t see your face well in the dark.
• I can’t really make out your face in the dark.

The first one is probably the closest in tone and meaning to the Greek sentence.