Η αδερφή μου επιλέγει συχνά το λεωφορείο αντί για το μετρό.

Η is the feminine singular definite article, meaning the.

It appears because αδερφή (sister) is a feminine singular noun, so the article has to match it:

• η αδερφή = the sister

In this sentence, η αδερφή μου means my sister. Greek normally uses the definite article here, whereas English usually does not say the my sister.

In Greek, possessive pronouns like μου (my) usually come after the noun:

• η αδερφή μου = my sister
• το βιβλίο μου = my book
• ο φίλος μου = my friend

So Greek structure is often:

• article + noun + possessive

This is one of the most common differences from English word order.

Επιλέγει is the third person singular present tense of the verb επιλέγω (to choose).

So:

• εγώ επιλέγω = I choose
• εσύ επιλέγεις = you choose
• αυτός/αυτή/αυτό επιλέγει = he/she/it chooses

Since the subject is η αδερφή μου (my sister), Greek uses the she chooses form:

• η αδερφή μου επιλέγει = my sister chooses

Συχνά means often.

In Greek, adverbs like συχνά are fairly flexible in position, but placing them after the verb is very natural:

• Η αδερφή μου επιλέγει συχνά το λεωφορείο...

This is similar to English My sister often chooses the bus...

You may also hear different word orders for emphasis, for example:

• Η αδερφή μου συχνά επιλέγει το λεωφορείο...

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

Because both nouns are neuter singular, and Greek normally uses the definite article with them here:

• το λεωφορείο = the bus
• το μετρό = the metro

Greek uses articles more regularly than English in many contexts. So even where English might sometimes say by bus or by metro, this sentence is not expressing means of transport in that fixed way. It is saying she chooses the bus instead of the metro, so the article is completely natural.

Αντί για means instead of.

It is a fixed expression used to contrast one choice with another:

• αντί για το μετρό = instead of the metro
• αντί για καφέ = instead of coffee
• αντί για νερό = instead of water

In your sentence:

• το λεωφορείο αντί για το μετρό = the bus instead of the metro

So the sister chooses one option rather than the other.

Because the normal expression is αντί για + noun phrase.

So Greek says:

• αντί για το μετρό
• αντί για καφέ
• αντί για το αυτοκίνητο

You should learn αντί για as a chunk meaning instead of.

There is also αντί by itself in Greek, but in everyday Modern Greek, when learners want to say instead of, αντί για is the usual and safest pattern.

Yes. After the verb επιλέγει (chooses), the thing being chosen is the direct object, so it appears in the accusative.

Here:

• το λεωφορείο = accusative singular
• το μετρό = accusative singular after αντί για

However, for many neuter singular nouns in Greek, the nominative and accusative forms are the same. So although these are accusative here, they look identical to the dictionary form.

That is why you see:

• nominative: το λεωφορείο
• accusative: το λεωφορείο

and similarly:

• nominative: το μετρό
• accusative: το μετρό

Yes. Αδερφή is a very common everyday form meaning sister.

You may also see αδελφή, which is a more conservative or formal spelling/pronunciation. In modern everyday speech, αδερφή is extremely common.

So for a learner:

• αδερφή = very common, natural
• αδελφή = also correct

Both mean sister.

Yes, Greek often drops subject pronouns, and even noun subjects can be omitted if they are already understood from context.

For example, if everyone already knows we are talking about the sister, Greek could simply say:

• Επιλέγει συχνά το λεωφορείο αντί για το μετρό.

That would mean She often chooses the bus instead of the metro.

But including Η αδερφή μου makes the sentence clearer and more explicit, especially when introducing the subject.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

i a-der-FI moo e-pi-LE-yi si-HNA to le-o-fo-RI-o a-DI ya to me-TRO

A few helpful notes:

• η sounds like ee
• δ sounds like the th in this
• γ before ει in επιλέγει sounds like a soft y-like sound, so -γει is roughly -yi
• χ in συχνά is a throaty sound, not an English k
• the stressed syllables are:
  • αδερφή
  • επιλέγει
  • συχνά
  • λεωφορείο
  • μετρό

Listening to native audio is especially helpful for words like συχνά and επιλέγει.

A very literal breakdown is:

• Η = the
• αδερφή = sister
• μου = my
• επιλέγει = chooses
• συχνά = often
• το λεωφορείο = the bus
• αντί για = instead of
• το μετρό = the metro

So literally:

The sister my chooses often the bus instead of the metro

Of course, natural English is:

My sister often chooses the bus instead of the metro.