Η στάχτη είναι κρύα.

A good approximate pronunciation is:

ee STAH-khtee EE-ne KREE-a

More exactly in IPA:

/i ˈstaxti ˈine ˈkria/

A few notes:

• Η is pronounced ee
• στάχτη has the stress on the first syllable: STAH-
• χ is a rough throat sound, like the ch in German Bach or Scottish loch
• είναι sounds like EE-ne
• κρύα sounds like KREE-a

Η is the feminine singular definite article, so it means the.

So:

• η στάχτη = the ash

Because it is at the beginning of the sentence, it is written with a capital letter: Η instead of η.

In Greek, nouns have grammatical gender, not just natural gender.

So στάχτη is grammatically feminine, even though ash is not biologically female. This is very common in Greek and many other languages.

A useful habit is to learn nouns together with their article:

• η στάχτη = ash, the ash

That helps you remember that the noun is feminine.

είναι means is.

It is the present-tense form of the verb είμαι, which means to be.

So the structure is:

• Η στάχτη = the ash
• είναι = is
• κρύα = cold

Literally: The ash is cold.

Because adjectives in Greek must agree with the noun they describe in gender and number.

Since στάχτη is feminine singular, the adjective must also be feminine singular:

• masculine: κρύος
• feminine: κρύα
• neuter: κρύο

So:

• η στάχτη είναι κρύα = the ash is cold

Even though κρύα comes after είναι, it still agrees with στάχτη.

Yes, in a normal sentence like this Greek uses είναι just as English uses is.

So:

• Η στάχτη είναι κρύα = The ash is cold

You normally would not leave είναι out in standard Greek.

Yes. In Greek, accent marks show which syllable is stressed.

In this sentence:

• στάχτη → stress on στά-
• είναι → stress on εί-
• κρύα → stress on κρύ-

Stress is important for correct pronunciation, and in some cases it can also help distinguish different words or forms.

The given order is the most neutral and straightforward:

• Η στάχτη είναι κρύα = The ash is cold

Greek word order is more flexible than English, so other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Κρύα είναι η στάχτη = The ash is cold, with extra emphasis on cold

But for a basic learner, Η στάχτη είναι κρύα is the best standard pattern to use.

Yes, στάχτη is singular.

The plural is:

• στάχτες = ashes

So:

• Η στάχτη είναι κρύα = The ash is cold
• Οι στάχτες είναι κρύες = The ashes are cold

Notice that both the article and the adjective change in the plural:

• η → οι
• κρύα → κρύες