Σήμερα το παιδί έφτιαξε ένα παζλ με ζώα και μετά έπαιξε με τουβλάκια στο χαλί.

Yes, the word order can change.

Greek word order is more flexible than English because endings and articles often make the grammar clear. Putting Σήμερα first gives the time expression a natural focus, like Today, the child...

You could also hear:

• Το παιδί έφτιαξε ένα παζλ με ζώα σήμερα
• Έφτιαξε σήμερα το παιδί ένα παζλ...
  but those sound different in emphasis.

So Σήμερα first is very natural, especially in storytelling.

Το παιδί means the child.

Greek uses the definite article very often, more often than English in some contexts. Here, το is the neuter singular definite article, and παιδί is a neuter noun.

So:

• το παιδί = the child
• ένα παιδί = a child

If you said just παιδί, that would usually sound less complete here, unless you were using it in a special style, like a headline or a very informal note.

Both are in the aorist tense, which is the main Greek past tense for a completed action.

• έφτιαξε = made / put together
• έπαιξε = played

In this sentence, the aorist is used because the speaker is describing two whole actions in sequence:

1. the child completed the puzzle
2. then the child played with blocks

This is very common in narration.

That έ- is called the augment, a feature often used in past-tense forms in Greek.

For example:

• φτιάχνω → έφτιαξε
• παίζω → έπαιξε

It is a normal marker of past tense in many verbs, especially when the stress pattern allows it.

So for a learner, it is useful to recognize that:

• present-tense dictionary form: φτιάχνω, παίζω
• past completed action: έφτιαξε, έπαιξε

Παζλ is treated as a neuter noun in Greek, so it takes the neuter article:

• ένα παζλ = a puzzle
• το παζλ = the puzzle

This word is a loanword and is usually indeclinable, meaning the noun itself does not change form much. The article tells you its gender and role.

So in this sentence:

• ένα = neuter singular a
• παζλ = puzzle

Here με ζώα means something like with animals on it, featuring animals, or animal-themed.

So ένα παζλ με ζώα is a puzzle that shows animals.

The preposition με has a broad meaning and often depends on context. Here it does not mean the child physically used animals to make the puzzle. It describes the type or design of the puzzle.

Because ζώα here is indefinite and general.

• με ζώα = with animals
• με τα ζώα = with the animals

In this sentence, the speaker is not referring to specific animals already known in the conversation. It just describes the puzzle’s content in a general way.

This is similar to English:

• a puzzle with animals
  not necessarily
• a puzzle with the animals

It is the same preposition, but it has different shades of meaning depending on context.

In this sentence:

• παζλ με ζώα = a puzzle with animals / featuring animals
• έπαιξε με τουβλάκια = played with blocks

So:

• first με describes a feature of the puzzle
• second με shows what the child used while playing

This is very normal in Greek. Like English with, Greek με is very flexible.

Τουβλάκια is the plural of τουβλάκι, which literally means little brick/block.

In this context, it means toy blocks or building blocks.

A useful breakdown:

• τούβλο = brick
• τουβλάκι = little brick / block
• τουβλάκια = little bricks / blocks

It is a neuter plural form. Greek often uses diminutive forms like this very naturally.

Because the sentence means with some blocks or just with blocks in a general sense, not necessarily a specific set already identified.

Compare:

• με τουβλάκια = with blocks
• με τα τουβλάκια = with the blocks

If the listener already knew which blocks were meant, the article would be more likely.

Here μετά means then or afterwards.

So:

• και μετά = and then

It links the two actions in time:

1. the child made the puzzle
2. then the child played with blocks

This is a very common storytelling phrase in Greek.

Στο is the contracted form of σε το.

So:

• σε + το = στο

This is completely standard Greek.

στο χαλί means on the rug/carpet or on the mat, depending on context.

Greek uses σε for several English prepositions such as in, at, and on, so the exact translation depends on the noun and situation.

That is a very common learner question.

Greek σε covers a wider range than English in / at / on. The best English translation depends on context.

Examples:

• στο σπίτι = in / at the house
• στο τραπέζι = on the table
• στο χαλί = on the rug

So you should not try to match σε to only one English preposition. Think of it as a general location preposition whose exact meaning changes with context.

Because the verbs agree with the subject, and the subject is το παιδί = the child, which is singular.

So:

• το παιδί έφτιαξε
• το παιδί έπαιξε

The words ζώα and τουβλάκια are plural, but they are not the subject of the verbs. They are just part of phrases describing the puzzle and the play activity.

Possibly, but έφτιαξε ένα παζλ is very natural for put together / made a puzzle.

• φτιάχνω often means make, build, put together, fix
• κάνω is a broader verb meaning do / make

For a puzzle, έφτιαξε sounds very good because it suggests assembling it. So this choice is quite natural and precise.