Η ανιψιά μου θέλει ένα κουνέλι, αλλά η μαμά της λέει όχι για τώρα.

Η ανιψιά μου means my niece.

• Η = the (feminine singular)
• ανιψιά = niece
• μου = my

A very common Greek pattern is:

• the + noun + possessive word

So instead of saying my niece the way English does, Greek often says literally:

• the niece my

That is completely normal Greek.

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English, especially with family members and possessive expressions.

So Greek says:

• η ανιψιά μου = my niece
• η μαμά της = her mom

Even though English usually does not say the my niece or the her mom, Greek does use the article here.

This is one of the most important differences for English speakers to get used to.

They are both short possessive forms.

• μου = my
• της = her

So:

• Η ανιψιά μου = my niece
• η μαμά της = her mom

These words are historically genitive forms, but for a learner it is very useful to think of them here as possessive words placed after the noun.

That is just the normal Greek structure for these weak possessive forms.

English:

• my niece
• her mom

Greek:

• η ανιψιά μου
• η μαμά της

So in Greek, these little possessive words usually come after the noun, not before it.

Yes. ανιψιά is a feminine noun and means niece.

That is why it takes the feminine singular article η:

• η ανιψιά

The masculine form is:

• ο ανιψιός = nephew

So the ending -ά here helps mark it as feminine.

ένα κουνέλι means a rabbit.

• ένα = a / one for a neuter singular noun
• κουνέλι = rabbit (neuter)

So:

• ένα κουνέλι = a rabbit

Greek nouns have gender, and κουνέλι is neuter, so it uses ένα.

Because κουνέλι is a neuter noun, and in the singular its nominative and accusative forms are the same.

Here it is the direct object of θέλει:

• θέλει ένα κουνέλι = wants a rabbit

But the noun itself stays κουνέλι.

This is very common with neuter nouns in Greek.

θέλει means wants.

It is the 3rd person singular form of the verb θέλω = to want.

So:

• εγώ θέλω = I want
• εσύ θέλεις = you want
• αυτός/αυτή θέλει = he/she wants

Since the subject is η ανιψιά μου = my niece, Greek uses θέλει.

Yes, exactly.

• λέει = says
• όχι = no

So η μαμά της λέει όχι literally means:

• her mom says no

In natural English, depending on context, this could also feel like:

• her mom says no
• her mom won’t allow it
• her mom is saying no

But the Greek expression is simply λέει όχι.

Because Greek does not need it here.

English often says:

• her mom says no or
• her mom says no to her

Greek can simply say:

• η μαμά της λέει όχι

The person affected is understood from the context. Since we were just talking about the niece, it is clear who is being told no.

If needed, Greek could make the indirect object more explicit, but in this sentence it is not necessary.

για τώρα means for now.

• τώρα by itself = now
• για τώρα = for now / at the moment

So:

• η μαμά της λέει όχι για τώρα = her mom says no for now

This suggests the answer is not necessarily permanent. It means something like:

• not right now
• maybe later, but not now

αλλά means but.

It connects the two parts of the sentence:

• Η ανιψιά μου θέλει ένα κουνέλι
• αλλά η μαμά της λέει όχι για τώρα

So it shows contrast:

• the niece wants something,
• but the mother is refusing for now.

Because αλλά joins two clauses, and Greek commonly uses a comma before it, much like English often does before but.

So the punctuation here is very natural:

• ..., αλλά ...

Both can mean mother, but they are different in tone.

• μαμά = mom / mum → everyday, warm, informal
• μητέρα = mother → more formal or neutral

In a natural everyday sentence about family, μαμά sounds much more normal.

So:

• η μαμά της = her mom

feels very conversational and natural.

Not completely. Greek word order is more flexible than English, although this sentence uses a very straightforward, neutral order:

• Η ανιψιά μου θέλει ένα κουνέλι
• αλλά η μαμά της λέει όχι για τώρα

That is basically:

• subject + verb + object
• then subject + verb + όχι
  • time phrase

Greek can rearrange elements for emphasis, but the version you have is the most natural neutral wording.

A rough pronunciation is:

• ανιψιά ≈ a-neep-SYA

The letters ψ are pronounced like ps together, as in the end of English lips.

So:

• ψ = ps

And the stress is on the last syllable:

• ανι-ψιά

λέει is pronounced roughly like:

• LEH-ee

It comes from the verb λέω = to say, and λέει is the he/she/it says form.

The stress is on the first syllable:

• λέ-ει

In everyday speech, you may hear it flow together quite smoothly.

Yes, Greek often drops subject pronouns, but nouns can also be omitted if the context is clear enough.

However, in this sentence the nouns are included because the speaker wants to clearly identify:

• who wants the rabbit
• who is saying no

If the context already made that obvious, Greek could be shorter. But this full version is clear and natural.

Usually, όχι means no.

In this sentence:

• λέει όχι = says no

Greek usually uses δεν for not with verbs:

• δεν θέλει = doesn’t want

So here, όχι is not the same as δεν. It is the standalone word no.

Yes, that is a very helpful way to understand the structure.

• η μαμά της = literally the mom of her
• natural English = her mom

Likewise:

• η ανιψιά μου = literally the niece of me
• natural English = my niece

That literal way of thinking often helps English speakers understand Greek possessive structure.