Η λοσιόν είναι δίπλα στη σαπουνοθήκη, αλλά η ενυδατική κρέμα είναι στο άλλο ράφι.

Because σε often contracts with the definite article in Modern Greek:

• σε + τη = στη
• σε + το = στο

So:

• στη σαπουνοθήκη = σε τη σαπουνοθήκη
• στο άλλο ράφι = σε το άλλο ράφι

The contracted forms are the normal ones in everyday Greek.

The noun after σε is in the accusative.

In this sentence, δίπλα is used with σε, so the pattern is:

δίπλα σε + accusative

That gives δίπλα στη σαπουνοθήκη.

A detail that can confuse learners: σαπουνοθήκη looks the same in the nominative and accusative singular, so you do not see a visible change here.

δίπλα means next to / beside.

It often works with σε when followed by a noun:

• δίπλα στη σαπουνοθήκη = next to the soap dish

It can also appear in other patterns, especially with pronouns:

• δίπλα μου = next to me
• δίπλα της = next to her

So in this sentence, think of δίπλα as a location word that usually needs σε before a full noun phrase.

Greek uses the definite article very regularly with specific nouns.

Here we are talking about particular items, so:

• η λοσιόν
• η ενυδατική κρέμα

are natural and expected.

English sometimes omits articles in labels or short descriptions, but Greek usually keeps them.

λοσιόν is a loanword. It is treated as feminine, which is why the article is η.

It is usually indeclinable, meaning the noun itself normally stays the same and the article shows the grammar:

• η λοσιόν
• τη λοσιόν
• της λοσιόν

So the ending does not behave like a typical native Greek feminine noun.

This is an adjective + noun phrase.

• κρέμα = cream
• ενυδατική = moisturizing / hydrating

The adjective ενυδατική agrees with κρέμα in gender, number, and case. Since κρέμα is feminine singular here, the adjective is feminine singular too.

So:

• ενυδατικός = masculine
• ενυδατική = feminine
• ενυδατικό = neuter

Because άλλο must agree with ράφι.

The noun ράφι is neuter singular, so the adjective must also be neuter singular:

• άλλος = masculine
• άλλη = feminine
• άλλο = neuter

So στο άλλο ράφι is grammatically correct because ράφι is neuter.

Because στο άλλο ράφι means on the other shelf — a specific shelf.

If you said σε ένα άλλο ράφι, that would mean on another shelf, which is less specific.

So the article helps show that the speaker has a particular other shelf in mind.

Because αλλά connects two full clauses:

• Η λοσιόν είναι δίπλα στη σαπουνοθήκη
• αλλά η ενυδατική κρέμα είναι στο άλλο ράφι

Repeating είναι is the normal, clear, balanced way to say it. Greek can sometimes omit repeated words in context, but this full version is the most neutral and standard.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

This sentence uses a very neutral pattern:

subject + είναι + place

But you could move things around for emphasis, for example:

• Δίπλα στη σαπουνοθήκη είναι η λοσιόν
• Στο άλλο ράφι είναι η ενυδατική κρέμα

The meaning stays basically the same, but the emphasis changes.

The accent mark shows which syllable is stressed. In this sentence, that is especially useful with words like:

• λοσιόν → stress on the last syllable
• δίπλα → stress on the first syllable
• σαπουνοθήκη → stress on θή
• αλλά → stress on the second syllable
• ενυδατική → stress on the last syllable
• κρέμα → stress on the first syllable
• άλλο → stress on the first syllable
• ράφι → stress on the first syllable

Paying attention to stress early on helps your Greek sound much more natural.