Ο σκύλος μου είναι λίγο χοντρός.

Ο is the definite article meaning the for a masculine singular noun in the nominative case.

So:

• Ο σκύλος = the dog

Greek articles change for gender, number, and case, unlike English the, which never changes.

In this sentence, σκύλος is:

• masculine
• singular
• the subject of the sentence

So Ο is the correct form.

σκύλος is the nominative singular form, which is the form used for the subject of the sentence.

Here, the dog is the one being described, so Greek uses the nominative:

• Ο σκύλος μου = my dog

You may see other forms in other contexts, for example:

• τον σκύλο = the dog as an object
• του σκύλου = of the dog / the dog’s

So σκύλος is used because the dog is the subject of είναι.

In Greek, the unstressed possessive form μου (my) normally comes after the noun.

So:

• ο σκύλος μου = my dog
• literally: the dog my

This is completely normal Greek word order.

Compare:

• το σπίτι μου = my house
• η φίλη μου = my friend

English puts my before the noun, but Greek usually puts μου after it.

It can mean both, depending on context.

In this sentence:

• ο σκύλος μου = my dog

So here μου is a possessive pronoun meaning my.

But in other sentences, μου can also mean to me or me, for example:

• Μου μιλάει. = He/She is talking to me.

So the exact meaning depends on how it is used in the sentence.

Yes. είναι means is (or more generally to be in its present form), and Greek does use it in this kind of sentence.

So:

• Ο σκύλος μου είναι λίγο χοντρός.
• My dog is a little fat.

Unlike some languages, Greek does not usually omit the verb to be in standard sentences like this.

είναι is the 3rd person singular present form, used with:

• he/she/it
• singular nouns like ο σκύλος

Here λίγο means a little, a bit, or somewhat.

It softens the adjective:

• χοντρός = fat
• λίγο χοντρός = a little fat / a bit fat

This makes the statement less strong.

In other contexts, λίγο can also refer to a small amount or short time, for example:

• λίγο νερό = a little water
• περίμενε λίγο = wait a little / wait a moment

In this sentence, it is acting like an adverb modifying χοντρός.

Because it is the predicate adjective after είναι.

Greek often uses this pattern:

• subject + είναι + adjective

So:

• Ο σκύλος μου = subject
• είναι = is
• λίγο χοντρός = a little fat

This is very similar to English:

• My dog is a little fat.

The adjective comes after the verb because it is describing the subject.

Because χοντρός has to agree with σκύλος.

In Greek, adjectives agree with the noun they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

Since σκύλος is:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative

the adjective must also be:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative

So:

• χοντρός = masculine singular
• χοντρή = feminine singular
• χοντρό = neuter singular

Examples:

• Ο σκύλος είναι χοντρός. = The dog is fat.
• Η γάτα είναι χοντρή. = The cat is fat.
• Το ζώο είναι χοντρό. = The animal is fat.

Not always. χοντρός is common and natural, but it can sound a bit blunt depending on context.

It can mean:

• fat
• chubby
• heavy
• sometimes thick, in other contexts

For a dog, λίγο χοντρός is quite natural and often sounds like a bit overweight/chubby rather than extremely rude.

Still, tone matters. If you want softer alternatives in some situations, Greek might use other wording, but for a simple learner sentence, λίγο χοντρός is perfectly understandable and normal.

In some contexts, Greek can omit the article, but in a basic neutral sentence like this, ο is normally used.

So the standard form is:

• Ο σκύλος μου είναι λίγο χοντρός.

Without the article:

• Σκύλος μου...

this would usually sound less natural in ordinary standard usage, unless it appears in a special context, like poetry, headings, or certain emphatic styles.

As a learner, it is safest to keep the article here.

Yes, Greek word order is more flexible than English, although not completely free.

The neutral, most natural order here is:

• Ο σκύλος μου είναι λίγο χοντρός.

But other orders may be possible for emphasis, such as:

• Λίγο χοντρός είναι ο σκύλος μου.
  • roughly: My dog is a little fat. / It’s my dog that’s a little fat.

The meaning stays similar, but the emphasis changes.

For learners, the original word order is the best one to use first.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• Ο = o
• σκύλος = SKEE-los
• μου = moo
• είναι = EE-ne
• λίγο = LEE-gho
• χοντρός = khon-TROS

A fuller rough version:

• o SKEE-los moo EE-ne LEE-gho khon-TROS

A few notes:

• υ in σκύλος sounds like ee
• γ in λίγο is a soft sound, not exactly like English g
• χ in χοντρός is like the ch in Scottish loch or German Bach

The stress falls on:

• σκύλος
• είναι
• λίγο
• χοντρός

The sentence breaks down like this:

• Ο σκύλος μου = my dog

  • Ο = the
  • σκύλος = dog
  • μου = my

• είναι = is

• λίγο χοντρός = a little fat

  • λίγο = a little / a bit
  • χοντρός = fat (masculine singular)

So the full structure is:

article + noun + possessive + verb + adverb + adjective

A very literal version would be:

• The dog my is a-little fat

A natural English version is:

• My dog is a little fat.