Φουσκώνω το λάστιχο σήμερα.

Φουσκώνω is 1st person singular present active: I inflate / I am inflating.

So the verb ending -ω here tells you the subject is I, even though Greek does not need to say the pronoun explicitly.

It is the normal present-tense form of the verb φουσκώνω.

Greek often drops subject pronouns when they are not needed.

So instead of saying Εγώ φουσκώνω..., Greek usually just says Φουσκώνω... because the verb ending already shows that the subject is I.

You would add εγώ only for emphasis, contrast, or clarity:

• Εγώ φουσκώνω το λάστιχο σήμερα, όχι ο Νίκος. = I’m inflating the tire today, not Nikos.

Το λάστιχο is the direct object of the verb: it is the thing being inflated.

• το = the
• λάστιχο = tire / tube / rubber item, depending on context

Here, λάστιχο is a neuter singular noun, and in the singular neuter, the nominative and accusative forms are the same:

• nominative: το λάστιχο
• accusative: το λάστιχο

So even though it is the object, its form does not change visibly.

Not always. Λάστιχο can have several meanings depending on context, such as:

• tire
• inner tube
• hose
• rubber band
• more generally something made of rubber

In this sentence, because of the verb φουσκώνω (inflate), the most natural meaning is usually tire or inner tube.

Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

So Φουσκώνω το λάστιχο σήμερα is perfectly natural. The adverb σήμερα (today) is placed at the end here without any problem.

You could also say:

• Σήμερα φουσκώνω το λάστιχο.
• Φουσκώνω σήμερα το λάστιχο.

These are all grammatical. The difference is mostly one of emphasis or rhythm, not basic meaning.

It can cover both, depending on context.

Greek present tense often corresponds to either:

• simple present: I inflate
• present progressive: I am inflating

So this sentence could be understood as:

• I’m inflating the tire today or
• I inflate the tire today

In real usage, English often chooses am inflating here, because today makes it sound like an action happening in the current time frame.

If you want to express a clear future action, Greek usually uses θα:

• Θα φουσκώσω το λάστιχο σήμερα. = I will inflate the tire today.

Without θα, Φουσκώνω το λάστιχο σήμερα is more naturally present-time or near-present in feeling, like I’m inflating the tire today.

So the sentence without θα is not primarily a plain future statement. If the intended meaning is definitely I will inflate it later today, adding θα is usually better.

Because this sentence is in the present indicative, and the normal present form is φουσκώνω.

Φουσκώσω belongs to the perfective stem and is normally used after particles like να or θα, not as a simple present indicative form by itself:

• να φουσκώσω
• θα φουσκώσω

So:

• Φουσκώνω = present
• θα φουσκώσω = future
• να φουσκώσω = subjunctive-type form

This is part of the very important Greek aspect system.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

foo-SKO-no to LA-sti-ho see-ME-ra

A few useful notes:

• ου sounds like oo in food
• ώ shows the stressed syllable in φουσκώνω
• χ is not English ch; it is a throat sound, like the ch in Scottish loch or German Bach
• Stress falls on:
  • φουσκώνω
  • λάστιχο
  • σήμερα

Yes, very often.

For example, all of these are possible:

• Φουσκώνω το λάστιχο σήμερα.
• Σήμερα φουσκώνω το λάστιχο.
• Φουσκώνω σήμερα το λάστιχο.

The main meaning stays the same, but the emphasis shifts a little:

• Σήμερα first puts extra focus on today
• Φουσκώνω first makes the action itself more central
• putting σήμερα last can sound neutral and natural in conversation

So in Greek, word order is often used for focus rather than strict grammatical necessity.