Η φήμη άλλαξε γρήγορα.

Because φήμη is the subject of the sentence, so Greek uses the nominative article η.

• η φήμη = nominative singular, used for the subject
• τη φήμη = accusative singular, usually used for a direct object

So in Η φήμη άλλαξε γρήγορα, the rumor / reputation is the thing that changed.

Yes. Φήμη is a feminine singular noun.

That is why it takes the feminine article η. In this sentence, both article and noun are in the nominative singular:

• η = feminine nominative singular article
• φήμη = feminine nominative singular noun

Greek nouns have grammatical gender, and you need the article and other related words to match that gender.

Άλλαξε is the aorist form of the verb αλλάζω.

In this sentence, it works like the English simple past:

• αλλάζω = I change / I am changing
• άλλαξε = changed

More specifically, άλλαξε is third person singular aorist active indicative, so it means he/she/it changed. Here it matches η φήμη, which is singular.

The dictionary form is αλλάζω.

This is the form you would normally look up in a dictionary. From that base form, Greek makes different tense forms:

• αλλάζω = I change
• άλλαξα = I changed
• άλλαξε = he/she/it changed

So when you see άλλαξε, it is useful to recognize it as coming from αλλάζω.

Because Greek does not need an extra helper word like English sometimes does.

In English, you may say:

• It changed quickly
• Did it change quickly?

Greek usually shows past time directly in the verb form itself. So άλλαξε already contains the idea of changed. There is no need for a separate word meaning did in this statement.

Yes. Αλλάζω can be used both:

• transitively: changing something
• intransitively: something changes

In this sentence, it is intransitive:

• Η φήμη άλλαξε γρήγορα.
• The rumor / reputation changed quickly.

There is no direct object here. The subject itself is what changed.

Γρήγορα is an adverb, and it means quickly.

It modifies the verb άλλαξε, not the noun φήμη. In other words, it tells you how the change happened.

That is why it does not change form to match φήμη. Adverbs in Greek do not agree in gender, number, or case.

Compare:

• γρήγορη φήμη = quick rumor or rapid reputation shift idea with an adjective
• άλλαξε γρήγορα = changed quickly with an adverb

Not completely. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

Η φήμη άλλαξε γρήγορα is a very natural, neutral order:

• subject + verb + adverb

But Greek can move things around for emphasis, for example:

• Η φήμη γρήγορα άλλαξε
• Γρήγορα άλλαξε η φήμη

These alternatives can sound more marked or emphasize different parts of the sentence. The basic meaning stays similar, but the focus can shift.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

ee FEE-mee AHL-la-kseh GHREE-gho-ra

A few notes:

• η sounds like ee
• φήμη is stressed on the first syllable: ΦΗ-μη
• άλλαξε is stressed on ά
• γρήγορα is stressed on γρή

The accent marks show which syllable gets the stress:

• φήμη
• άλλαξε
• γρήγορα

Yes. In Greek, accent marks are important because they show stress.

In this sentence:

• φήμη
• άλλαξε
• γρήγορα

The written accents tell you which syllable to emphasize when speaking. They are a normal part of correct spelling in Modern Greek, so learners should get used to paying attention to them early.