Το στήθος μου πονάει.

My chest hurts.

Breakdown of Το στήθος μου πονάει.

• μου: my
• πονάω: to hurt
• το στήθος: chest (body)

Questions & Answers about Το στήθος μου πονάει.

What does each word in Το στήθος μου πονάει mean?

Word by word:

• Το = the
• στήθος = chest
• μου = my
• πονάει = hurts / is hurting

So the structure is literally The chest of me hurts, but natural English is My chest hurts.

Why is there το if English just says my chest and not the my chest?

Greek often uses the definite article with body parts, even when a possessive is also present.

So:

• το στήθος μου = literally the chest my
• natural English = my chest

This is very normal in Greek. You will see the same pattern in many expressions:

• το χέρι μου = my hand
• το κεφάλι μου = my head
• το πόδι μου = my leg

So the article is not strange or extra here; it is the normal Greek way to say it.

Why does μου come after στήθος instead of before it?