Η ζαχαροπλάστρια της γειτονιάς φτιάχνει λουκουμάδες με μέλι, αλλά εγώ προτιμώ τσουρέκι με καφέ.

Η ζαχαροπλάστρια is feminine because it refers to a woman. The article η is the feminine singular form of the, and ζαχαροπλάστρια is the feminine noun.

The masculine equivalent is ο ζαχαροπλάστης.

So:

• η ζαχαροπλάστρια = the female pastry maker / pastry chef
• ο ζαχαροπλάστης = the male pastry maker / pastry chef

Greek often changes the noun ending to show gender, not just the article.

Because της γειτονιάς is in the genitive case, which is often used to mean of the neighborhood.

So:

• η γειτονιά = the neighborhood
• της γειτονιάς = of the neighborhood

In η ζαχαροπλάστρια της γειτονιάς, Greek is literally saying the pastry chef of the neighborhood, which English would usually express as the neighborhood pastry chef or the pastry chef in the neighborhood.

This is a very common Greek pattern:

• ο φούρνος της γειτονιάς = the neighborhood bakery
• το παιδί της Μαρίας = Maria’s child

Greek often leaves out the article when talking about something in a general or indefinite way, especially with food.

So:

• φτιάχνει λουκουμάδες = she makes loukoumades
• προτιμώ τσουρέκι = I prefer tsoureki

This sounds general, not tied to one specific batch or one specific item.

If you added the article, it would sound more specific:

• φτιάχνει τους λουκουμάδες = she is making the loukoumades
• προτιμώ το τσουρέκι = I prefer the tsoureki

Both are in the present tense.

• φτιάχνει = he/she/it makes, prepares
• προτιμώ = I prefer

More specifically:

• φτιάχνει is 3rd person singular
• προτιμώ is 1st person singular

Greek verb endings often tell you who the subject is, so the subject pronoun is not always necessary.

Yes, but φτιάχνει is very natural here.

Φτιάχνω means make or prepare, and it is extremely common for food, drinks, and sweets:

• φτιάχνω καφέ = I make coffee
• φτιάχνω κέικ = I make a cake
• φτιάχνω λουκουμάδες = I make loukoumades

A verb like μαγειρεύω means cook, but it is more associated with cooking meals. For pastries, sweets, and similar items, φτιάχνω is often the more natural everyday choice.

Yes, προτιμώ already shows I, so εγώ is not grammatically necessary.

It is included for emphasis or contrast:

• αλλά εγώ προτιμώ... = but I prefer...

This gives the feeling of:

• but as for me...
• but I personally prefer...

Without εγώ, the sentence would still be correct:

• ...αλλά προτιμώ τσουρέκι με καφέ.

Adding εγώ makes the contrast stronger.

The basic meaning is the same: with. But the exact relationship depends on context.

• λουκουμάδες με μέλι = loukoumades with honey
  Here με suggests topping, ingredient, or accompaniment.

• τσουρέκι με καφέ = tsoureki with coffee
  Here it most naturally means together with coffee, as something you eat alongside coffee.

So Greek uses με quite broadly, just like English with.

Because that is the most natural way to refer to these foods.

Λουκουμάδες are normally thought of as multiple small pieces, so the plural is expected.

Τσουρέκι is often treated as a type of food in general, so the singular works naturally, like saying:

• I prefer cake
• I prefer bread
• I prefer brioche

If you wanted to be more specific, you could say:

• ένα τσουρέκι = one tsoureki loaf
• ένα κομμάτι τσουρέκι = a piece of tsoureki

No, Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

The sentence as given is natural and neutral:

• Η ζαχαροπλάστρια της γειτονιάς φτιάχνει λουκουμάδες με μέλι, αλλά εγώ προτιμώ τσουρέκι με καφέ.

But Greek can move things around for emphasis:

• Αλλά εγώ προτιμώ τσουρέκι με καφέ.
• Με μέλι φτιάχνει λουκουμάδες...

What helps Greek stay clear is that articles, noun endings, and verb endings give grammatical information that English often shows through word order.

In Modern Greek, the written accent mark shows which syllable is stressed.

For example:

• ζαχαροπλάστρια → stress on πλά
• γειτονιάς → stress on νιάς
• λουκουμάδες → stress on μά
• προτιμώ → stress on μώ
• τσουρέκι → stress on ρέ

A few helpful pronunciation notes:

• τσ sounds like the ts in cats
• ου sounds like oo
• γ before ε or ι is a soft sound, close to an English y sound

So γειτονιάς begins roughly like yi- rather than a hard g.