Δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω το σιδέρωμα σήμερα.

In this sentence, Δεν προλαβαίνω means I don’t have enough time, I can’t fit it in, or I won’t manage in time.

The verb προλαβαίνω often has the idea of being in time to do something or managing to get something done before it’s too late / before time runs out.

So:

• Δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω το σιδέρωμα σήμερα.
  = I don’t have time to do the ironing today.

It is not just about physical speed. It usually means there isn’t enough time in my schedule.

Greek usually does not use an infinitive the way English does.
Where English says to do, Greek often uses να + verb.

So:

• να κάνω = to do
• να φύγω = to leave
• να δω = to see

After προλαβαίνω, Greek normally uses this structure:

• προλαβαίνω να... = manage / have time to...
• δεν προλαβαίνω να... = don’t manage / don’t have time to...

So να κάνω is the normal Greek equivalent of English to do here.

Because Greek can express this idea in two natural ways:

• κάνω το σιδέρωμα = do the ironing
• σιδερώνω = iron

So this sentence could also be said as:

• Δεν προλαβαίνω να σιδερώσω σήμερα.

The version with κάνω το σιδέρωμα focuses on the chore/task as a whole, much like English do the ironing.

The version with σιδερώνω focuses more directly on the action of ironing clothes.

Both are natural.

Το σιδέρωμα is a noun meaning the ironing or ironing as a household task.

Compare:

• σιδερώνω = I iron / to iron
• το σιδέρωμα = the ironing

This is very similar to English:

• I iron
• the ironing

So in the sentence:

• κάνω το σιδέρωμα
  literally = do the ironing

Greek uses the definite article very often, including with chores, activities, and abstract nouns.

So το σιδέρωμα is the natural way to say the ironing as a specific task.

This is actually similar to English, because we also usually say:

• do the ironing
• not usually do ironing in this exact sense

So the article το is completely normal here.

It is the direct object of κάνω, so it is in the accusative case.

However, because σιδέρωμα is a neuter noun, the nominative and accusative forms are the same:

• nominative: το σιδέρωμα
• accusative: το σιδέρωμα

So you do not see a visible change here, but grammatically it is functioning as the object of the verb.

Because Greek often uses the present tense to talk about a current situation.

Here the speaker is saying, essentially:

• Right now, I don’t have enough time to do the ironing today.

So the present tense describes the speaker’s present lack of time.

If you wanted a more clearly future-looking version, you could also hear:

• Δεν θα προλάβω να κάνω το σιδέρωμα σήμερα.
  = I won’t have time to do the ironing today.

Both are possible, but the original sentence is very natural.

Yes. Greek word order is fairly flexible, and σήμερα can move depending on emphasis.

For example:

• Δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω το σιδέρωμα σήμερα.
• Σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω να κάνω το σιδέρωμα.
• Δεν προλαβαίνω σήμερα να κάνω το σιδέρωμα.

All of these are possible.

The original version, with σήμερα at the end, sounds very natural and neutral. It places the time expression after the main idea.

Yes, absolutely.

• Δεν έχω χρόνο να κάνω το σιδέρωμα σήμερα.
  = I don’t have time to do the ironing today.

This is also correct and natural.

The difference is small:

• Δεν έχω χρόνο... = a more direct statement about not having time
• Δεν προλαβαίνω... = stronger sense of not managing to fit it in / not being in time

So προλαβαίνω often sounds a bit more like I can’t get to it in time.

Δεν is the standard word for not before most verbs in Modern Greek.

It comes before the verb:

• προλαβαίνω = I manage / I have time
• δεν προλαβαίνω = I don’t manage / I don’t have time

So the basic negative pattern is:

• Δεν + verb

That is exactly what is happening here:

• Δεν προλαβαίνω

It is neutral everyday Greek.
You could say it in normal conversation without sounding too formal or too casual.

It works well in situations like:

• talking at home
• explaining your schedule
• texting someone
• speaking to friends or family

So it is a very useful real-life sentence pattern:

• Δεν προλαβαίνω να... = I don’t have time to... / I can’t manage to...