Το αποτύπωμα είναι καθαρό.

Το is the definite article in Greek, meaning the.

In this sentence, το goes with αποτύπωμα because αποτύπωμα is a neuter singular noun. Greek articles change depending on gender, number, and case, unlike English the, which never changes.

So:

• το = the for a neuter singular noun in the nominative/accusative

Here, Το αποτύπωμα means the imprint / the print / the fingerprint, depending on context.

In Greek, every noun has a grammatical gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. This gender is part of the word and does not always match biological sex or any logical category.

Αποτύπωμα happens to be a neuter noun. That is why it takes:

• the article το
• the adjective form καθαρό

A useful pattern is that many Greek nouns ending in -μα are neuter, for example:

• το γράμμα = the letter
• το όνομα = the name
• το πράγμα = the thing
• το αποτύπωμα = the imprint / print

So the ending -μα is often a clue that the noun is neuter.

Greek adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

Since αποτύπωμα is neuter singular, the adjective must also be neuter singular.

So you get:

• καθαρός = masculine singular
• καθαρή = feminine singular
• καθαρό = neuter singular

Because the noun is το αποτύπωμα, the correct form is καθαρό.

It can mean either clean or clear, depending on context.

The basic meaning of καθαρός / καθαρή / καθαρό is clean. But in some contexts it can also mean:

• clear
• distinct
• unblurred
• easy to make out

With αποτύπωμα, the sentence could mean:

• the print is clean
• the print is clear
• the print is well-defined

If the sentence is about evidence, police work, or a visible mark, clear or distinct may sound more natural in English. If it is about dirt or mess, clean may be more natural.

Είναι means is / are.

In this sentence, it links the subject (Το αποτύπωμα) with the description (καθαρό), just like English is:

• The imprint is clear
• Το αποτύπωμα είναι καθαρό

In the present tense, Greek usually does use είναι when saying that something is something or is in a certain state.

So in a sentence like this, you normally do not leave it out.

Yes. Greek word order is often more flexible than English word order.

The most neutral order is:

• Το αποτύπωμα είναι καθαρό.

But you may also hear:

• Καθαρό είναι το αποτύπωμα.
• Είναι καθαρό το αποτύπωμα.

These variations can change the focus or emphasis. For example, putting καθαρό earlier may emphasize that it is the clearness/cleanliness that matters.

Still, for learners, Το αποτύπωμα είναι καθαρό is the safest and most straightforward version.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

to a-po-TI-po-ma EE-ne ka-tha-RO

A few points:

• το sounds like to in toss, but shorter
• αποτύπωμα has the stress on τύ
• είναι is pronounced roughly EE-ne
• καθαρό has the stress on the last syllable: -ρό

About θ in καθαρό:

• Greek θ is like th in think, not like th in this

The stress marks are important in Greek, so notice:

• αποτύπωμα
• καθαρό

It is in the nominative case because it is the subject of the sentence.

The subject is the thing that is something:

• Το αποτύπωμα = the subject
• είναι καθαρό = is clean/clear

For this noun, the nominative singular form is το αποτύπωμα.

In this sentence, the adjective καθαρό matches that neuter singular form.

No. Αποτύπωμα is a broader word.

It can refer to:

• an imprint
• a print
• a trace
• a mark left behind
• a fingerprint, depending on context

So the exact English translation depends on what kind of mark is being talked about.

For example, in different contexts it might mean:

• a footprint
• a fingerprint
• an impression in a surface
• even a figurative impression or impact

So the Greek word is more general than one single English word.

In normal Greek, that would sound unnatural here.

If you are talking about a specific print, you usually say:

• Το αποτύπωμα είναι καθαρό.

Leaving out the article in Greek is not as common as in English. Greek uses the definite article very often with nouns, especially when referring to something specific.

So if English says The print is clear, Greek naturally says Το αποτύπωμα είναι καθαρό.

Because Greek does not need a dummy subject like English it in this kind of sentence.

English often needs a subject in every sentence structure, but Greek can simply use the noun itself as the subject:

• Το αποτύπωμα είναι καθαρό.

There is no need to add a separate word meaning it before είναι.

Greek can use pronouns, but only when they are actually needed for emphasis, contrast, or clarity. Here, the noun το αποτύπωμα already does the job.