Η πάγια εντολή λειτουργεί.

η is the definite article: the.

In this sentence, it is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

It matches εντολή, which is a feminine singular noun.

So η πάγια εντολή means the standing order / the permanent instruction, depending on the meaning already given to you.

Because the adjective has to agree with the noun it describes.

The noun εντολή is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

So the adjective also has to be feminine singular nominative:

• masculine: πάγιος
• feminine: πάγια
• neuter: πάγιο

That is why Greek uses πάγια εντολή, not πάγιος εντολή.

It is both.

Literally:

• πάγια = permanent / fixed / standing
• εντολή = order / instruction

But together, πάγια εντολή is also a very common set phrase, especially in banking or administrative contexts.

So it is best to learn πάγια εντολή as a chunk, not just as two separate words.

They are in the nominative case.

That is because this phrase is the subject of the sentence:

• Η πάγια εντολή = the subject
• λειτουργεί = the verb

Greek shows this with agreement:

• η = nominative feminine singular article
• πάγια = nominative feminine singular adjective
• εντολή = nominative feminine singular noun

λειτουργεί is:

• present tense
• 3rd person singular
• from the verb λειτουργώ = to function / to operate

So it means:

• it functions
• it works
• it is operating

The ending -εί is the normal 3rd person singular present ending for many verbs in -ώ.

It can mean either, depending on context.

The Greek present tense often covers both:

• works
• is working

So Η πάγια εντολή λειτουργεί could mean:

• the standing order works
• the standing order is working
• the standing order is functioning

Greek does not always make the same simple/present-continuous distinction that English does.

Because Greek usually does not need an explicit subject pronoun when the verb ending already shows the person and number.

Here, λειτουργεί already means he/she/it functions.

Also, the subject is already stated as Η πάγια εντολή, so adding a pronoun would be unnecessary.

This is very normal in Greek.

In this expression, πάγια εντολή is the normal order.

Greek adjectives can sometimes appear after the noun, but:

• adjective-before-noun is very common
• fixed expressions often keep one usual order
• πάγια εντολή is the standard phrase you should learn as a unit

So for this specific expression, it is best to stick with πάγια εντολή.

A rough pronunciation is:

ee PA-ya en-do-LEE lee-toor-YEE

A slightly more accurate guide:

• Η = ee
• πάγια = PA-ya
• εντολή = en-do-LEE
• λειτουργεί = lee-toor-yee

A few useful notes:

• γ before ι or ε is a soft sound, not a hard English g
• ει is pronounced ee
• the stress marks show which syllable is stressed

They show which syllable gets the stress.

So:

• πάγια → stress on πά
• εντολή → stress on λή
• λειτουργεί → stress on the final -εί

These written accents are important in Greek and should normally be written.

Yes. This is a very natural, neutral sentence.

It follows a simple pattern:

• Η πάγια εντολή = subject
• λειτουργεί = verb

So the sentence is basically Subject + Verb, which is a very common and straightforward Greek word order.

Greek word order is flexible, but this version sounds neutral and standard.