Η μικρή τρέμει όταν ακούει βροντή τη νύχτα.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed. The verb ending already tells you the person and number.

• τρέμει = he/she/it trembles
• ακούει = he/she/it hears

So Greek does not need to say she explicitly here. If you added αυτή, it would usually sound emphatic: she trembles.

Μικρή is the feminine singular form of μικρός meaning small / little. With the article η, the adjective can function like a noun.

So η μικρή literally means the little one in the feminine. In context, that often becomes the little girl.

Compare:

• το μικρό κορίτσι = the little girl more explicitly
• η μικρή = the little one / the little girl

It is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

It matches the article η, because together they form the subject of the sentence: η μικρή.

The basic adjective forms are:

• μικρός = masculine
• μικρή = feminine
• μικρό = neuter

The present tense in Greek can describe:

• something happening right now, or
• a habitual / repeated action

Here, because of όταν and the general meaning, τρέμει is understood as a repeated reaction: she trembles whenever this happens.

So it is not just is trembling right now; it can also mean trembles / tends to tremble.

Όταν means when or whenever. In this sentence, όταν ακούει gives a repeated, habitual sense:

• όταν ακούει βροντή = when / whenever she hears thunder

Using the present here fits the idea of something that happens regularly.

A different form can change the meaning. For example, όταν ακούσει would more naturally point to a single future occasion, like when she hears thunder at some later time.

Because βροντή is being used in a general, indefinite sense, much like English hear thunder.

So:

• ακούει βροντή = she hears thunder
• ακούει τη βροντή = she hears the thunder / the thunderclap, more specific

Greek often omits the article when the noun is meant generally rather than as a specific, already identified thing.

It can mean either, depending on context.

• as a general natural sound: thunder
• as one instance or boom: a thunderclap

In this sentence, English usually translates it naturally as thunder, because the meaning is general.

Greek often uses the accusative as a time expression without a preposition.

So τη νύχτα means:

• at night
• during the night

This is a very common pattern in Greek. It works like an adverbial expression of time.

Other similar examples:

• την Κυριακή = on Sunday
• τον χειμώνα = in winter

The full feminine accusative singular article is την, but in modern Greek the final -ν is often dropped before certain consonants.

So both spelling and pronunciation rules affect this. Before νύχτα, it is normal to write:

• τη νύχτα

This is standard and natural.

In practice, it can be understood with the whole situation, but the most natural reading is:

• she trembles when she hears thunder at night

So τη νύχτα is closely connected to ακούει βροντή. It gives the time setting for the hearing event, and therefore for the whole reaction.

Greek word order is flexible, so context helps decide what attaches to what. In this sentence, the intended meaning is clear.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order. This sentence uses a very natural, neutral order:

• Η μικρή τρέμει όταν ακούει βροντή τη νύχτα.

But Greek could move parts around for emphasis, for example:

• Τη νύχτα η μικρή τρέμει όταν ακούει βροντή.

That would place more emphasis on at night. The original version sounds smooth and ordinary.