Η φθορά φαίνεται καθαρά.

Η is the definite article meaning the for a feminine singular noun in the nominative case.

Here, φθορά is feminine singular, so it takes η:

• η φθορά = the wear / the damage / the deterioration

Because φθορά is the subject of the sentence, it appears in the nominative.

Φθορά can mean things like:

• wear
• damage
• deterioration
• decay
• corruption in some contexts

The exact English translation depends on context. In a sentence like this, it often means visible wear or deterioration.

A rough pronunciation is:

• φ = f
• θ = the th in think
• ο = short o
• ρ = rolled or tapped r
• ά = stressed a

So φθορά sounds roughly like ftho-RA.

A common difficulty for English speakers is the cluster φθ at the beginning. You pronounce both consonants: fth...

Φαίνεται is the 3rd person singular present tense form of φαίνομαι.

So it means:

• it appears
• it seems
• it is visible

Since the subject is η φθορά, the meaning is the wear appears / is visible / can be seen.

The verb φαίνομαι is one of those Greek verbs that commonly appears in the middle/passive-looking form but has an active meaning in English.

So although φαίνεται looks passive in form, it often translates naturally as:

• appears
• seems
• is visible

This is very common in Greek. You should learn φαίνομαι as its own verb rather than trying to force a literal passive interpretation every time.

Here καθαρά means:

• clearly
• plainly
• visibly

It is an adverb, describing how the wear appears.

So:

• φαίνεται καθαρά = is clearly visible / shows clearly

Because καθαρά here is an adverb, not an adjective.

Compare:

• καθαρή φθορά would be wrong in meaning here, because καθαρή is an adjective meaning clean / clear and would describe the noun directly.
• φαίνεται καθαρά is correct because the word describes the verb φαίνεται.

A useful pattern is:

• adjective: καθαρός, καθαρή, καθαρό
• adverb: καθαρά

No, Greek word order is often more flexible than English word order.

This sentence could also appear as:

• Η φθορά καθαρά φαίνεται
• Καθαρά φαίνεται η φθορά
• Φαίνεται καθαρά η φθορά

These versions may sound more marked or emphasize different parts, but they are grammatically possible.

The original Η φθορά φαίνεται καθαρά is a neutral, straightforward order.

Yes. That is very common.

Depending on context, φαίνεται may mean:

• seems
• appears
• is visible
• can be seen

In this sentence, because the subject is something physical like wear or damage, the most natural sense is is clearly visible rather than seems.

Sometimes Greek can omit the article, but in a sentence like this, η φθορά is the most natural form if you mean the wear / the damage in a specific, identifiable sense.

Without the article:

• Φθορά φαίνεται καθαρά

this sounds less neutral and more like a headline, label, or a more general statement.

So for standard everyday prose, Η φθορά φαίνεται καθαρά is the expected form.

Φθορά is in the nominative singular, because it is the subject of the sentence.

You can tell from both:

1. its role in the sentence: it is the thing that appears
2. the article: η is the feminine singular nominative article

So:

• η φθορά = nominative singular
• subject of φαίνεται

In natural English, The wear is clearly visible sounds much better.

Greek often uses φαίνεται where English prefers expressions like:

• is visible
• shows
• can be seen

So while appears clearly is possible as a very literal gloss, the more idiomatic English rendering is usually The wear is clearly visible.

The stress is:

• Η — no stress mark because it is a one-syllable article
• φθορά — stress on the last syllable: -ρά
• φαίνεται — stress on the first syllable: ΦΑΙ-
• καθαρά — stress on the last syllable: -ρά

So the rhythm is roughly:

• i ftho-RA FE-ne-te ka-tha-RA

Pay special attention to the different stress in:

• φαίνεται
• καθαρά
• φθορά