Η μπανιέρα είναι μικρή, αλλά η σαπουνοθήκη χωράει δίπλα στη βρύση.

Η is the feminine singular form of the in Greek.

It appears before both μπανιέρα and σαπουνοθήκη because both nouns are feminine singular:

• η μπανιέρα = the bathtub
• η σαπουνοθήκη = the soap dish

Greek uses the definite article much more regularly than English, and the article must match the noun’s gender, number, and case.

In Modern Greek, μπ is often pronounced like b at the beginning of a word.

So μπανιέρα sounds roughly like ban-YE-ra.

A few useful points:

• μπ at the start of a word often sounds like b
• νιέ here gives a nye sound
• the stress is on -έ-, so: μπανιέρα

This is a common Greek spelling pattern for the b sound.

Because μικρή has to agree with η μπανιέρα, which is feminine singular.

The adjective small changes form depending on gender and number:

• masculine: μικρός
• feminine: μικρή
• neuter: μικρό

So:

• η μπανιέρα είναι μικρή = the bathtub is small

This is called adjective agreement.

Αλλά means but.

It connects the two parts of the sentence:

• Η μπανιέρα είναι μικρή
• αλλά
• η σαπουνοθήκη χωράει δίπλα στη βρύση

So it works just like English but.

Σαπουνοθήκη means soap dish.

It is a compound word:

• σαπούνι = soap
• θήκη = case / holder / container

So σαπουνοθήκη is literally something like soap-holder.

Greek often forms words this way, by combining parts into one compound noun.

Here χωράει means fits or there is enough room for it.

So η σαπουνοθήκη χωράει δίπλα στη βρύση means the soap dish can fit next to the faucet.

A useful nuance:

• χωράω / χωρώ can mean fit, have enough space, or be contained
• in everyday Greek, χωράει is a very common form

So this is not about carrying or holding something in your hands; it is about available space.

Greek often expresses this idea with the simple verb χωράει, without needing a separate word for can.

So where English says:

• the soap dish can fit next to the faucet

Greek naturally says:

• η σαπουνοθήκη χωράει δίπλα στη βρύση

The idea of possibility is already built into the meaning of χωράει in this context.

Because δίπλα here works with the preposition σε:

• δίπλα σε = next to

So the full structure is:

• δίπλα σε τη βρύση

But Greek normally contracts this:

• σε τη → στη

So:

• δίπλα στη βρύση = next to the faucet

Στη is a contraction of:

• σε = to / at / in / on, depending on context
• τη = the feminine singular accusative article

So:

• σε τη → στη

This is extremely common in Greek.

You will also see:

• στο = σε + το
• στον = σε + τον
• στην = σε + την

Both are related, but στη is the usual contracted form here.

Historically and grammatically, the full form is based on σε την → στην. In modern usage, the final -ν is often dropped before certain consonants, so you commonly get:

• στη βρύση

This is very normal Modern Greek usage.

So learners should recognize that:

• στη βρύση
• sometimes στην βρύση

are closely related, but στη βρύση is the standard everyday form here.

After σε and expressions like δίπλα σε, Greek uses the accusative case.

So η βρύση is the dictionary/basic subject form, but after the preposition you get:

• nominative: η βρύση
• accusative: τη βρύση

The noun βρύση itself does not change visibly here, but the article changes from η to τη.

That is why you see:

• δίπλα στη βρύση

Not completely. Greek word order is more flexible than English because articles and endings give grammatical information.

This sentence could be rearranged in some ways without changing the basic meaning, for example:

• Η σαπουνοθήκη χωράει δίπλα στη βρύση, αλλά η μπανιέρα είναι μικρή.

However, the original order is the most natural if the speaker first wants to mention the bathtub being small and then contrast that with the fact that the soap dish still fits.

So the word order helps with emphasis and flow, even when grammar would still allow other orders.

Because Greek, like English, usually separates two coordinated clauses with a comma when they are joined by αλλά (but), especially when each clause has its own verb:

• Η μπανιέρα είναι μικρή,
• αλλά
• η σαπουνοθήκη χωράει δίπλα στη βρύση.

This punctuation is very natural and standard.

The stressed syllables are marked with the accent marks:

• Η μπανιέρα → stress on -έ-: ban-YE-ra
• είναι → stress on εί-
• μικρή → stress on -ρή
• αλλά → stress on -λά
• η σαπουνοθήκη → stress on -θή-
• χωράει → stress on -ρά-
• δίπλα → stress on δί-
• στη βρύση → stress on βρύ-

Stress matters in Greek, so the written accent is important for pronunciation.

There are variants. The verb is commonly given as χωράω or χωρώ, and in usage you may encounter forms like:

• χωράει
• χωρεί

In everyday spoken Modern Greek, χωράει is very common and natural.

So for a learner, χωράει is an excellent form to know and use.