Ο παπαγάλος μιλάει όταν ακούει τη φωνή μου.

Ο is the definite article, meaning the.

So:

• ο παπαγάλος = the parrot
• παπαγάλος = parrot / a parrot depending on context

Greek uses articles very regularly, often more regularly than English. In a basic sentence like this, using ο is the normal way to say the parrot.

Also, παπαγάλος is a masculine singular noun, so it takes the masculine singular nominative article ο.

παπαγάλος is in the nominative case, because it is the subject of the sentence: the parrot is the one doing the actions.

You can tell from:

• the article ο, which is nominative masculine singular
• the role in the sentence: the parrot speaks

So:

• ο παπαγάλος = nominative, subject
• if it were an object, the form of the article would change

This is one of the basic Greek patterns: the article often helps you identify the case.

In Greek, subject pronouns are often left out because the verb ending already shows the person and number.

So μιλάει by itself means:

• he speaks
• she speaks
• it speaks

In this sentence, the subject is already clearly stated as Ο παπαγάλος, so Greek does not need a separate word for it.

English usually needs the pronoun:

• The parrot speaks when it hears my voice.

Greek usually does not:

• Ο παπαγάλος μιλάει όταν ακούει τη φωνή μου.

The second verb ακούει also has no explicit pronoun, but it still refers to the parrot.

Because both verbs are in the present tense, 3rd person singular:

• μιλάει = he/she/it speaks
• ακούει = he/she/it hears

That ending is very common for present-tense verbs in Modern Greek.

In this sentence, the same subject, the parrot, is understood with both verbs:

• The parrot speaks
• when [the parrot] hears my voice

So the matching -ει ending helps show that both actions are done by the same singular subject.

όταν means when.

It introduces a time clause, just like English when:

• μιλάει όταν ακούει τη φωνή μου
• it speaks when it hears my voice

A useful thing to notice is that Greek often uses the present tense in both parts here when talking about something habitual or generally true:

• Ο παπαγάλος μιλάει όταν ακούει τη φωνή μου.
• The parrot speaks when it hears my voice.

This suggests a repeated or usual behavior, not just one single event.

Because φωνή is the direct object of ακούει.

The parrot hears the voice, so voice is not the subject; it is the thing being heard. That means Greek uses the accusative case here.

So:

• η φωνή = the voice as a subject, nominative
• τη φωνή = the voice as an object, accusative

In this sentence:

• ακούει τη φωνή μου = it hears my voice

The article changes from η to τη to show the case.

μου means my here.

More literally, it is related to of me, but in normal English we translate:

• τη φωνή μου = my voice

This is a very common Greek structure:

• το σπίτι μου = my house
• η μητέρα μου = my mother
• τη φωνή μου = my voice

So instead of putting a separate possessive adjective before the noun, Greek often puts this short possessive form after the noun.

Both are connected to the same article: την is the full accusative feminine singular form of the.

In Modern Greek, the final -ν is sometimes kept and sometimes dropped in writing, depending on the next sound and style conventions.

So you may see:

• τη φωνή μου
• την φωνή μου

Both mean the same thing here: my voice.

In everyday Modern Greek, τη φωνή is very common. Learners should recognize both forms.

Greek accent marks show which syllable is stressed.

• φωνή is stressed on the last syllable: fo-NÍ

This matters because stress is an important part of correct pronunciation in Greek.

Similarly:

• παπαγάλος → pa-pa-GÁ-los
• μιλάει → mi-LÁ-i
• ακούει → a-KÚ-i
• φωνή → fo-NÍ

If you place the stress incorrectly, Greek can sound unnatural, and sometimes stress can even distinguish words.

Yes. Greek word order is generally more flexible than English word order, because case endings and verb forms give extra grammatical information.

The given sentence:

• Ο παπαγάλος μιλάει όταν ακούει τη φωνή μου.

is a very natural, neutral order.

But Greek can move things around for emphasis, for example:

• Όταν ακούει τη φωνή μου, ο παπαγάλος μιλάει.

This still means essentially the same thing: When it hears my voice, the parrot speaks.

English is usually less flexible, while Greek can shift elements more easily depending on focus and style.

In Modern Greek, both μιλάει and μιλά can be used for he/she/it speaks.

So you may hear or see:

• Ο παπαγάλος μιλάει
• Ο παπαγάλος μιλά

Both are standard in Modern Greek, though style, region, and level of formality can affect preference.

For learners, μιλάει is often easier to recognize because the ending clearly matches forms like ακούει.

Yes. In this sentence, the understood subject of ακούει is still ο παπαγάλος.

Greek often avoids repeating the subject when it is obvious.

So the structure is understood as:

• Ο παπαγάλος μιλάει όταν [ο παπαγάλος] ακούει τη φωνή μου.

English also often avoids repetition in this kind of sentence:

• The parrot speaks when it hears my voice.

So even though Greek does not repeat ο παπαγάλος, the meaning is clear from context.

Both verbs are in the present tense:

• μιλάει = speaks / is speaking
• ακούει = hears / is hearing

In this sentence, the present tense most naturally gives a habitual or general meaning:

• The parrot speaks when it hears my voice.

That means this is something it usually does, not necessarily something happening only right now.

Greek present tense often covers both simple present and present continuous meanings, depending on context.