Μετά το ταξίδι ξεφορτώνω πρώτα τις τσάντες και μετά ξεκουράζομαι.

Because μετά can be used in two different ways:

• μετά + noun phrase = after
  • Μετά το ταξίδι = after the trip
• μετά on its own = then / afterwards
  • και μετά ξεκουράζομαι = and then I rest

So the first μετά is a preposition, while the second is acting more like an adverb.

Here το ταξίδι is in the accusative case, because in modern Greek μετά meaning after normally takes the accusative:

• μετά το μάθημα = after the lesson
• μετά τη δουλειά = after work
• μετά το ταξίδι = after the trip

So this is a very standard pattern to learn: μετά + accusative.

πρώτα means first. It emphasizes the order of actions:

• πρώτα τις τσάντες = the bags first
• και μετά ξεκουράζομαι = and then I rest

So the sentence gives a clear sequence:

1. First, I unload the bags.
2. Then, I rest.

Using both πρώτα and μετά is very natural in Greek, just like first ... then ... in English.

Because Greek often uses the definite article where English may or may not use the.

• τις = the for feminine plural accusative
• τσάντες = bags

So τις τσάντες literally means the bags.

In this sentence, the speaker likely means specific bags already understood from the situation, such as the bags from the trip.

Because τσάντες is the feminine plural accusative form of η τσάντα (the bag).

Here is the pattern:

• singular nominative: η τσάντα
• singular accusative: την τσάντα
• plural nominative: οι τσάντες
• plural accusative: τις τσάντες

It is in the accusative here because it is the direct object of ξεφορτώνω: I unload the bags.

ξεφορτώνω means I unload, I take off, or I remove a load.

In this sentence, it means something like:

• I unload the bags
• I take the bags out
• I get the bags out of the car / off me / out after the trip

The prefix ξε- often gives a sense of removing, undoing, or taking away something.

Compare:

• φορτώνω = I load
• ξεφορτώνω = I unload

Not necessarily. Ξεκουράζομαι is a middle/passive-form verb, but here it has an active meaning: I rest.

So although it looks like a passive form, it does not mean I am being rested. It simply means:

• I rest
• I take a rest
• I relax

This is common in Greek. Some verbs appear in -ομαι forms but are translated actively in English.

Yes. Ξεφορτώνω and ξεκουράζομαι are both present tense, first person singular:

• ξεφορτώνω = I unload
• ξεκουράζομαι = I rest

Depending on context, the Greek present can mean:

• a habitual action: After a trip, I first unload the bags and then I rest
• a vivid description of what happens: After the trip, I unload the bags first and then I rest

Without extra context, English often translates this as a general or habitual statement.

Greek word order is fairly flexible. The sentence as given is natural, but other orders are also possible, depending on emphasis.

For example:

• Μετά το ταξίδι ξεφορτώνω πρώτα τις τσάντες και μετά ξεκουράζομαι.
• Μετά το ταξίδι, πρώτα ξεφορτώνω τις τσάντες και μετά ξεκουράζομαι.
• Πρώτα ξεφορτώνω τις τσάντες μετά το ταξίδι και μετά ξεκουράζομαι.
  This is possible, but less neat in this context.

The original version is good because it sounds smooth and clearly sets up the time first: After the trip...

A few useful pronunciation points:

• ξ = ks
  • ξεφορτώνω sounds roughly like ksefor-TO-no
  • ξεκουράζομαι sounds roughly like ksekoo-RA-zomai
• Stress matters in Greek:
  • ταξίδι → stress on -ξί-
  • πρώτα → stress on πρώ-
  • τσάντες → stress on τσάν-
  • ξεφορτώνω → stress on -τών-
  • ξεκουράζομαι → stress on -ρά-

Also, αι in και is pronounced like e, so και sounds like ke.

Yes, sometimes. Ξεκουράζομαι often means rest, but in natural English it may also be translated as relax, depending on context.

Possible translations:

• After the trip, I first unload the bags and then I rest.
• After the trip, I unload the bags first and then I relax.

Rest is the more direct translation, but relax can sound more natural in some contexts.