Στο τσάι ρίχνω λίγο μέλι όταν πονάει ο λαιμός μου.

Greek word order is flexible, so Στο τσάι is placed first to set the scene: As for the tea / In tea.

The sentence could also be said as:

• Ρίχνω λίγο μέλι στο τσάι όταν πονάει ο λαιμός μου.

That is probably the more neutral word order for many learners. Starting with Στο τσάι gives a little emphasis to the tea, almost like In my tea, I add a little honey...

Στο is a contraction of:

• σε + το = στο

Here, σε means something like in / into / to, depending on context.

So:

• στο τσάι = in the tea / into the tea

Greek often uses σε where English may use in, into, to, or at.

Because Greek normally uses the article much more often than English.

So Greek says:

• στο τσάι = literally in the tea

Even if English would naturally say in tea or in my tea, Greek often keeps the article.

Also, τσάι is neuter singular, so with σε it becomes:

• σε το τσάι → στο τσάι

After σε, the noun goes in the accusative.

So in στο τσάι:

• σε takes the accusative
• το τσάι is accusative singular

For τσάι, nominative and accusative look the same, so the form does not change visibly.

Yes, ρίχνω literally can mean throw, drop, or pour, depending on context.

But in everyday Greek, it is very commonly used for adding something to food or drink. So here:

• ρίχνω λίγο μέλι = I put / add a little honey

It does not sound strange in Greek. It is a very natural verb in this context.

Because Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb ρίχνω already tells you the subject is I:

• ρίχνω = I put / I add

So Greek does not need εγώ unless the speaker wants emphasis or contrast.

For example:

• Εγώ ρίχνω μέλι, όχι ζάχαρη. = I add honey, not sugar.

λίγο μέλι means a little honey or some honey.

• λίγο = a little / a small amount of
• μέλι = honey

Here λίγο works as a quantifier for an uncountable noun, just like English a little.

Because after words like λίγο, Greek often uses the noun without an article.

So:

• λίγο μέλι = a little honey
• λίγο νερό = a little water
• λίγη ζάχαρη = a little sugar

Using no article here is completely normal.

It is the direct object of ρίχνω, so it is in the accusative.

• ρίχνω τι; → λίγο μέλι
• What do I add? → a little honey

Again, with μέλι, nominative and accusative have the same form, so you do not see a visible ending change here.

Because μέλι is a neuter noun.

Greek λίγος / λίγη / λίγο changes to match the gender of the noun:

• masculine: λίγος
• feminine: λίγη
• neuter: λίγο

Since μέλι is neuter, we use:

• λίγο μέλι

όταν means when.

In this sentence it introduces a time clause:

• όταν πονάει ο λαιμός μου
• when my throat hurts

With the present tense, this often has a general or habitual meaning:

• when(ever) my throat hurts

So the whole sentence suggests something the speaker usually does in that situation.

Because the subject is:

• ο λαιμός μου = my throat

That is he/she/it grammatically, so the verb must be third person singular:

• ο λαιμός μου πονάει = my throat hurts

Even though English uses my, the real grammatical subject is throat, not I.

Yes. Both are common.

• πονάει
• πονά

Both mean hurts.

Similarly, you may also see the first-person form:

• πονάω / πονώ = I hurt / I am in pain

So this sentence could also appear as:

• ...όταν πονά ο λαιμός μου.

That is perfectly natural too.

In Greek, possessive pronouns like μου usually come after the noun:

• ο λαιμός μου = my throat
• το σπίτι μου = my house
• η φίλη μου = my friend

So Greek structure is often:

• the throat my
• the house my

This is simply the normal Greek pattern.

Because Greek usually keeps the definite article with possessed nouns.

So where English says:

• my throat

Greek normally says:

• ο λαιμός μου
• literally: the throat my

That is the standard way to express possession in Greek.

Yes, more or less. Greek allows the subject to come after the verb:

• πονάει ο λαιμός μου = my throat hurts

A more English-like order would be:

• ο λαιμός μου πονάει

Both are correct. The version in your sentence is very natural Greek.

Not necessarily. The present tense here often expresses a habitual or general action.

So:

• Στο τσάι ρίχνω λίγο μέλι όταν πονάει ο λαιμός μου.

means something like:

• I put a little honey in tea when my throat hurts
• Whenever my throat hurts, I put a little honey in tea

It describes what the speaker usually does in that situation, not only what is happening at this moment.

Yes. Πονάει ο λαιμός μου literally means my throat hurts, but in natural English the idea can be expressed in several ways:

• my throat hurts
• I have a sore throat
• my throat is sore

The exact English wording depends on style, but the Greek meaning is the same.

Yes, it is natural and understandable.

A slightly more neutral word order might be:

• Ρίχνω λίγο μέλι στο τσάι όταν πονάει ο λαιμός μου.

But the original:

• Στο τσάι ρίχνω λίγο μέλι όταν πονάει ο λαιμός μου.

is also natural, especially if the speaker wants to emphasize what they put it in.

Literally, σε often covers both to and in/into, so the exact English translation depends on context.

With ρίχνω λίγο μέλι, the natural meaning is:

• I put/add a little honey in/into the tea

So although a very literal breakdown might suggest to the tea, the real idiomatic meaning in English is in the tea or into the tea.

A lot of useful Greek grammar appears here:

1. Contraction of preposition + article

   • σε + το = στο

2. Flexible word order

   • Στο τσάι is fronted for emphasis/topic

3. Dropped subject pronoun

   • ρίχνω already means I add

4. Direct object in the accusative

   • λίγο μέλι

5. Gender agreement

   • λίγο matches neuter μέλι

6. Possession with article + noun + μου

   • ο λαιμός μου

7. Third person singular verb

   • πονάει agrees with ο λαιμός

8. Present tense for habitual action

   • the sentence describes what someone generally does

It is a short sentence, but it contains several very common Greek patterns.