Η μητέρα εξοφλεί τον λογαριασμό.

Η means the.

More specifically, it is the feminine singular nominative definite article, because μητέρα (mother) is:

• feminine
• singular
• the subject of the sentence

So Η μητέρα = the mother.

A useful extra note: η is also pronounced ee, and it is different from ή with an accent, which means or.

Because μητέρα is the subject of the sentence.

In Greek, the article changes depending on the noun’s case. Here, the mother is the one doing the action, so Greek uses the nominative case:

• η μητέρα = the mother as subject

If it were the object, you would use the accusative:

• τη(ν) μητέρα = the mother as object

So in this sentence, η μητέρα is correct because the mother is paying.

Because τον λογαριασμό is the direct object of the verb.

In English, the bill looks the same whether it is the subject or the object. In Greek, the form changes.

Dictionary form:

• ο λογαριασμός = the bill/account as subject

But in this sentence it is the thing being paid, so Greek uses the accusative:

• τον λογαριασμό = the bill/account as object

So:

• Η μητέρα = subject
• εξοφλεί = verb
• τον λογαριασμό = object

Εξοφλεί means pays off, settles, or pays in full.

It is stronger and more specific than a very general pay. It often suggests that the debt or bill is being cleared completely.

So depending on context, this sentence could mean:

• The mother pays the bill
• The mother pays off the bill
• The mother settles the bill

If you already know πληρώνω (to pay), it helps to think of εξοφλώ as to pay off fully / settle.

The dictionary form is εξοφλώ.

Εξοφλεί is the:

• present tense
• third person singular
• meaning he/she/it pays off

A few forms are:

• εγώ εξοφλώ = I pay off
• εσύ εξοφλείς = you pay off
• αυτός/αυτή/αυτό εξοφλεί = he/she/it pays off

So in this sentence, εξοφλεί matches η μητέρα = the mother.

Because Greek often does not need subject pronouns.

The verb ending already tells you the person and number, and here the noun η μητέρα already tells you who is doing the action.

So Greek normally says:

• Η μητέρα εξοφλεί τον λογαριασμό.

You could add αυτή (she) only for emphasis, but it would usually sound unnecessary in a neutral sentence.

This is different from English, where you must usually say she pays.

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

This sentence uses the most neutral and common order:

• Η μητέρα εξοφλεί τον λογαριασμό.
• Subject + Verb + Object

But Greek can move things around for emphasis, because the articles and noun endings help show what each word is doing.

For example, other orders may be possible in context, such as:

• Τον λογαριασμό εξοφλεί η μητέρα.
• Η μητέρα τον λογαριασμό εξοφλεί.

These do not all feel equally neutral, though. The original sentence is the most straightforward standard version.

Because masculine nouns like this often change form in the accusative singular.

Here is the pattern:

• ο λογαριασμός = nominative singular
• τον λογαριασμό = accusative singular

So the ending changes from:

• -ος → -ο

This is a very common Greek pattern for masculine nouns.

You can think of it like this:

• subject form: ο λογαριασμός
• object form: τον λογαριασμό

A simple pronunciation guide is:

ee mee-TE-ra ek-so-flee ton lo-ga-ria-SMO

A few notes:

• Η sounds like ee
• μητέρα is stressed on -τέ-
• εξοφλεί is stressed on the last syllable
• λογαριασμό is stressed on the last syllable

If you want it more slowly:

• Η → ee
• μητέρα → mee-TE-ra
• εξοφλεί → ek-so-FLEE
• τον λογαριασμό → ton lo-ga-ria-SMO

It can mean both, depending on context.

Common meanings include:

• bill
• invoice
• account
• tab
• even bank account in other contexts

In this sentence, because the verb is εξοφλεί (pays off / settles), the most natural meaning is usually bill.

So learners will most likely understand:

• Η μητέρα εξοφλεί τον λογαριασμό.
• The mother settles/pays the bill.

In careful standard writing, τον is very commonly written with the -ν, including here.

You may learn rules about when the final -ν can be kept or dropped in some articles, especially in less formal usage or depending on the following sound. But for a learner, the safest choice is:

• write τον λογαριασμό

That is fully standard and natural.

So in this sentence, τον is exactly what you should expect to see.