Πίνω έναν μικρό εσπρέσο το πρωί, γιατί η πολλή καφεΐνη με κάνει νευρικό.

I drink a small espresso in the morning, because too much caffeine makes me nervous.

Breakdown of Πίνω έναν μικρό εσπρέσο το πρωί, γιατί η πολλή καφεΐνη με κάνει νευρικό.

• πίνω: to drink
• πολύς: much
• το πρωί: in the morning
• γιατί: because

Questions & Answers about Πίνω έναν μικρό εσπρέσο το πρωί, γιατί η πολλή καφεΐνη με κάνει νευρικό.

Why is it έναν and not ένα before εσπρέσο?

Because έναν is the masculine accusative singular form of the indefinite article ένας.

• ένας = a / one, masculine nominative
• έναν = a / one, masculine accusative
• ένα = a / one, neuter

In this sentence, εσπρέσο is treated as masculine, and it is the direct object of πίνω, so the accusative is needed: έναν εσπρέσο.

Is εσπρέσο really masculine, even though it ends in -ο?

Yes. Greek grammatical gender does not always match the ending, especially with loanwords.

In everyday Greek, ο εσπρέσο is very common. Coffee names are often treated as masculine, sometimes by association with ο καφές.

Also, εσπρέσο is usually indeclinable, so the noun itself does not change form. The article and adjective show the gender and case instead:

• έναν μικρό εσπρέσο
• ο μικρός εσπρέσο would not be natural here, but it shows the idea that the article/adjective carry the grammar

Why is it μικρό and not μικρός?