Η πιατέλα είναι πάνω στο τραπέζι και η κανάτα είναι δίπλα στα ποτήρια.

Η is the feminine singular definite article, meaning the.

It appears twice because there are two separate feminine singular nouns:

• η πιατέλα
• η κανάτα

Greek usually uses the definite article more consistently than English, so repeating it here is completely normal.

Because both nouns are feminine singular.

In Greek, every noun has grammatical gender, and the article must match it:

• η πιατέλα = feminine singular
• η κανάτα = feminine singular

This does not necessarily mean the objects are biologically feminine; it is just a grammatical category.

Είναι is the 3rd person singular and plural form of είμαι (to be) in the present tense.

Here it means is:

• η πιατέλα είναι ... = the platter is ...
• η κανάτα είναι ... = the jug is ...

A useful thing to know is that είναι does not change between he/she/it is and they are.

Because the sentence contains two coordinated clauses:

• Η πιατέλα είναι πάνω στο τραπέζι
• και η κανάτα είναι δίπλα στα ποτήρια

Greek can sometimes omit repeated material, but repeating είναι here is the most natural and clear way to say it.

Πάνω is an adverb/preposition-like word meaning on / above / over, and here it combines with σε + το:

• σε το → στο

So:

• πάνω στο τραπέζι = on the table

Literally, you can think of it as something like up on the table.

Δίπλα means next to / beside and is commonly used with σε.

Here:

• σε τα → στα

So:

• δίπλα στα ποτήρια = next to the glasses

This is a very common structure in Greek:

• δίπλα σε κάτι = next to something

Because Greek normally contracts σε with the definite article:

• σε + το → στο
• σε + τα → στα
• σε + τη(ν) → στη(ν)
• σε + τον → στον

These contracted forms are the standard ones you will usually see and hear.

They are in the accusative case, because the preposition σε takes the accusative.

Here are the dictionary forms and the forms used in the sentence:

• το τραπέζι → accusative το τραπέζι
• το ποτήρι → plural τα ποτήρια → accusative plural τα ποτήρια

For neuter nouns like these, the nominative and accusative are often the same, so the form may not look different, but grammatically it is accusative.

Because ποτήρι is a neuter noun, and its plural is:

• singular: το ποτήρι
• plural: τα ποτήρια

Many neuter nouns in -ι form the plural in -ια.

So:

• ποτήρι → ποτήρια
• τραπέζι → τραπέζια

In the sentence, στα ποτήρια means at/next to the glasses.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English, because endings and articles help show grammatical relationships.

The given order is neutral and natural:

• Η πιατέλα είναι πάνω στο τραπέζι και η κανάτα είναι δίπλα στα ποτήρια.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Πάνω στο τραπέζι είναι η πιατέλα...

That said, for learners, the original word order is the safest model to follow.

Not exactly. They often correspond to English prepositions, but their grammar is a little different.

• πάνω can mean on, above, or over, depending on context.
• δίπλα means next to / beside and often needs σε before the noun phrase.

So it is better to learn them as common Greek patterns:

• πάνω στο / στη / στον / στα
• δίπλα σε / δίπλα στο / δίπλα στα

rather than expecting a perfect one-word match with English.

A rough English-friendly pronunciation is:

ee pyah-TEH-lah EH-neh PAH-no sto trah-PEH-zee keh ee kah-NAH-tah EH-neh THEE-plah sta poh-TEE-rya

A few useful notes:

• η / οι / ει are pronounced like ee
• αι is pronounced like eh
• μπ, ντ, γκ can have special sounds, but none appear here
• δίπλα has the stress on the first syllable: DEE-pla
• ποτήρια has the stress on τή: po-TEE-ria

In this sentence, the articles are definitely natural and expected:

• η πιατέλα
• το τραπέζι
• η κανάτα
• τα ποτήρια

Greek uses the definite article very often, usually more often than English. Omitting it here would sound unnatural unless you were speaking in a very special context, like labels or notes.

Και means and.

It joins the two clauses:

• Η πιατέλα είναι πάνω στο τραπέζι
• η κανάτα είναι δίπλα στα ποτήρια

It is a very common Greek word and is usually pronounced keh in normal speech.

The dictionary forms are:

• η πιατέλα = platter, serving plate
• το τραπέζι = table
• η κανάτα = jug, pitcher
• το ποτήρι = glass

It is good to memorize Greek nouns together with their article, because the article tells you the noun’s gender:

• η = feminine
• ο = masculine
• το = neuter