Στο βλέμμα του φαινόταν θυμός.

Στο is a contraction of σε + το.

• σε = in / at / on / to, depending on context
• το = the neuter singular definite article

So στο βλέμμα literally means in the look / in the gaze.

In this sentence, in is the most natural translation:

• Στο βλέμμα του = in his gaze / in his look

It does follow the case required by σε, which is the accusative.

However, βλέμμα is a neuter noun, and for many neuter nouns the nominative and accusative singular look exactly the same.

So:

• nominative: το βλέμμα
• accusative: το βλέμμα

After σε, you would expect the accusative, and that is what you have here:

• σε το βλέμμα → στο βλέμμα

Here του means his.

Greek often uses the weak genitive pronoun after a noun to show possession:

• το βλέμμα του = his look / his gaze

This structure is extremely common in Greek. Instead of putting a separate word before the noun like English his, Greek often puts του after the noun.

Depending on context, του can also mean of him, of it, or even his in a more general sense. In this sentence, it is clearly possessive: his gaze.

φαινόταν is the imperfect form of φαίνομαι, in the 3rd person singular.

So it means something like:

• was appearing
• was visible
• seemed

In this sentence, it gives a descriptive, ongoing background sense:

• Στο βλέμμα του φαινόταν θυμός.
• Anger was visible in his gaze.

The imperfect is often used in narration or description to show a state or something that was noticeable over a span of time, not just at one single instant.

Formally, it is a middle/passive-type form, because φαίνομαι belongs to the set of verbs that use passive-style endings.

But in meaning, here it is not really a passive like was seen by someone. It means appeared / seemed / was visible.

So the most useful way for a learner to think about it is:

• dictionary form: φαίνομαι
• meaning here: to appear / to seem / to be visible

It is one of those Greek verbs that looks passive in form but often has an active-like meaning in English.

The subject is θυμός.

Even though it comes after the verb, it is still the subject:

• φαινόταν = was visible / appeared
• θυμός = anger

So literally the structure is close to:

• In his gaze appeared anger

This word order is very natural in Greek. The subject does not always have to come before the verb.

Greek often leaves out the article with abstract nouns when presenting them as a quality or something noticeable in a general sense.

So:

• φαινόταν θυμός = anger was visible
• this sounds natural and descriptive

If you said φαινόταν ο θυμός, it would sound more like the anger was visible, as if you were referring to a more specific, already identifiable anger.

So the version without the article is a very natural choice here because θυμός is being presented as a visible emotional quality.

Greek word order is much more flexible than English word order.

This sentence begins with Στο βλέμμα του to set the scene first:

• In his gaze...

Then comes the verb:

• φαινόταν = was visible

Then the subject:

• θυμός = anger

This order sounds natural and expressive in Greek. It highlights where the anger could be seen.

A more English-like order is possible in Greek too, but it may sound less natural or create a different emphasis.

Yes. Greek allows several possible word orders, for example:

• Θυμός φαινόταν στο βλέμμα του.
• Στο βλέμμα του ο θυμός φαινόταν.
• Φαινόταν θυμός στο βλέμμα του.

These all communicate roughly the same basic idea, but the emphasis changes.

The original:

• Στο βλέμμα του φαινόταν θυμός

is very natural because it starts with the place where the emotion is visible, then presents what was seen there.

Good question, because English often uses look, eyes, gaze, and expression in overlapping ways.

• βλέμμα = look / gaze / expression in the eyes
• μάτια = eyes
• κοίταγμα = the act of looking / a look / a glance, often more concrete or momentary

In this sentence, βλέμμα is the best fit because it refers to the expression shown in someone’s eyes or face. It is not just the physical eyes, and not just a single glance, but the emotional quality of the way he looked.

A simple pronunciation guide would be:

Sto VLEM-ma tou fe-NO-tan thi-MOS

A few notes:

• βλ in βλέμμα is pronounced together, roughly like vl
• αι in φαινόταν sounds like e
• θ in θυμός is like the th in think
• the stressed syllables are:
  • βΛΕμμα
  • φαιΝΟταν
  • θυΜΟΣ

So the rhythm is:

Sto VLEM-ma tou fe-NO-tan thi-MOS