Η ζήλια της κράτησε ένα λεπτό, αλλά μετά έμεινε μόνο λίγη ενοχή.

Her jealousy lasted a minute, but afterward only a little guilt remained.

Breakdown of Η ζήλια της κράτησε ένα λεπτό, αλλά μετά έμεινε μόνο λίγη ενοχή.

• λίγος: little
• αλλά: but
• ένα: one
• το λεπτό: the minute

Questions & Answers about Η ζήλια της κράτησε ένα λεπτό, αλλά μετά έμεινε μόνο λίγη ενοχή.

Why is της placed after ζήλια instead of before it?

In Greek, possessive pronouns like μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους usually come after the noun.

So:

• η ζήλια της = her jealousy
• literally: the jealousy of her

This is very common Greek word order. English says her jealousy, but Greek normally says the jealousy her.

Here της is the feminine/genitive form meaning her.

Why is there an article in Η ζήλια της?

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English.

So:

• η ζήλια της literally = the jealousy of her
• natural English = her jealousy

Even when English would just use a possessive like her, Greek often keeps the article:

• η μητέρα μου = my mother
• το σπίτι του = his house
• η ζήλια της = her jealousy

So the article η is completely normal here.

What does κράτησε mean here? Does it literally mean held?