Όταν βρέχει, φτιάχνω παζλ με την ανιψιά μου στο σαλόνι.

Because Greek does not need a dummy subject like English it in weather expressions.

So:

βρέχει = it is raining / it rains

The verb is in the 3rd person singular, but Greek simply leaves the subject unstated. This is very normal with weather verbs.

It can be understood as either when or whenever, depending on context.

In this sentence, the most natural sense is often whenever it rains, because the whole sentence sounds like a habit:

Όταν βρέχει, φτιάχνω παζλ...
= Whenever it rains, I do puzzles...

But Greek όταν can also mean when in a more specific situation. Context tells you which meaning is intended.

It can mean both.

The Greek present tense often covers both:

• simple present: it rains
• present continuous: it is raining

So βρέχει can mean:

• it rains
• it’s raining

The same is true for φτιάχνω:

• I make / I do
• I am making / I am doing

In this sentence, English might translate it as When it rains, I do puzzles... or When it’s raining, I do puzzles...

Because Όταν βρέχει is an introductory subordinate clause.

Greek often puts a comma after a time clause at the beginning of the sentence, just like English often does:

Όταν βρέχει, ...
= When it rains, ...

You may sometimes see slight punctuation variation in informal writing, but this comma is standard and natural.

Literally, φτιάχνω often means make, fix, prepare, or create.

But with παζλ, it means do / put together / work on a puzzle.

So:

φτιάχνω παζλ = I do puzzles or I put together puzzles

This is a very natural Greek way to say it, even if English uses do rather than make.

Because παζλ is being used in a general, nonspecific way.

φτιάχνω παζλ means something like:

• I do puzzles
• I work on a puzzle / puzzles

If you said φτιάχνω το παζλ, that would usually mean I’m doing the specific puzzle.

So the version without the article sounds more general or activity-based.

It can feel a bit flexible in meaning.

παζλ is an indeclinable loanword in Modern Greek, and its form does not change. In context, φτιάχνω παζλ usually means the activity of doing puzzles in general.

Depending on context, English might render it as:

• I do puzzles
• I do a puzzle

If you want to be more clearly plural, Greek often still uses the same form:

• τα παζλ = the puzzles

Because Greek normally uses the definite article with possessive expressions.

So Greek says:

• η ανιψιά μου = my niece
• την ανιψιά μου = my niece in the accusative

This is one of the big differences from English. In English, my replaces the, but in Greek the article usually stays:

την ανιψιά μου
literally something like the niece of mine

That is the normal Greek structure.

Because the weak possessive forms in Greek usually come after the noun.

So:

• η ανιψιά μου = my niece
• το σπίτι μου = my house
• ο φίλος μου = my friend

This is the standard pattern.

If you want emphasis, Greek can use a fuller structure such as δική μου, but the normal everyday form is the short possessive after the noun.

Because με takes the accusative case in Modern Greek.

The base form is:

• η ανιψιά = the niece (nominative)

After με:

• με την ανιψιά = with the niece

So την is the feminine singular accusative article, and ανιψιά is also in the accusative form.

In this noun, nominative and accusative look very similar:

• η ανιψιά
• την ανιψιά

στο is a contraction of:

σε + το = στο

So:

• σε = in / at / to
• το = the for a neuter noun

Therefore: στο σαλόνι = in the living room or to the living room, depending on context

Here it means in the living room because the sentence describes location, not movement.

Because the verb and the context show that this is a location, not a destination.

φτιάχνω παζλ στο σαλόνι means you are doing the activity there.

Greek σε can mean:

• in
• at
• to

So the exact English preposition depends on context. Here, since there is no motion, in is the natural translation.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English.

The neutral order here is very natural:

Όταν βρέχει, φτιάχνω παζλ με την ανιψιά μου στο σαλόνι.

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

• Όταν βρέχει, στο σαλόνι φτιάχνω παζλ με την ανιψιά μου.
• Με την ανιψιά μου φτιάχνω παζλ στο σαλόνι όταν βρέχει.

These are possible, but the original sentence sounds the most straightforward and natural for neutral speech.

Greek often changes the verb after όταν in that case.

For a general or habitual meaning:

• Όταν βρέχει, φτιάχνω παζλ...
  = Whenever it rains, I do puzzles...

For a specific future event, Greek commonly uses the subjunctive/perfective form:

• Όταν βρέξει, θα φτιάξω παζλ με την ανιψιά μου στο σαλόνι.

So:

• βρέχει = general, ongoing, habitual
• βρέξει = one future instance

This is a very important distinction in Greek.