Breakdown of Η φίλη μου λέει ότι δεν είναι μόνο τύχη, είναι και προσπάθεια.
είμαι
to be
δεν
not
η φίλη
the female friend
μου
my
Questions & Answers about Η φίλη μου λέει ότι δεν είναι μόνο τύχη, είναι και προσπάθεια.
Why does the sentence start with Η φίλη μου?
Η φίλη μου means my friend when the friend is female.
- η = the for a feminine singular noun
- φίλη = female friend
- μου = my
So literally it is the friend my, but natural English is my friend.
Greek often uses the definite article where English would not, so η φίλη μου is the normal way to say my friend.
Why is μου placed after φίλη instead of before it?
In Greek, possessive forms like μου often come after the noun:
- η φίλη μου = my friend
- το βιβλίο μου = my book
- ο αδερφός μου = my brother
This is one of the most basic Greek patterns. English says my friend, but Greek usually says the friend my.
What form is λέει?
Λέει is the 3rd person singular present of λέω, meaning to say or to tell.
So:
- λέω = I say
- λες = you say
- λέει = he/she/it says
Here it matches η φίλη μου, so:
- Η φίλη μου λέει = My friend says