Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου στο σκοτάδι.

I can't make out your face well in the dark.

Breakdown of Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου στο σκοτάδι.

• καλά: well
• δεν: not
• σου: your
• σε: in

Questions & Answers about Δεν ξεχωρίζω καλά το πρόσωπό σου στο σκοτάδι.

What does ξεχωρίζω mean here? I thought it meant separate or stand out.

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.

Why is it Δεν ξεχωρίζω and not a different negative form?

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.

Why is the verb in the present tense?