Ράβω το στρίφωμα με μικρές βελονιές και ελέγχω τη ραφή.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed. This is called pro-drop.

In Ράβω ... και ελέγχω ..., the verb endings already show that the subject is I:

• ράβω = I sew / I am sewing
• ελέγχω = I check / I am checking

So Greek does not need εγώ unless the speaker wants extra emphasis, like I sew it, not someone else.

They are both in the present tense, first person singular.

So:

• ράβω = I sew / I am sewing
• ελέγχω = I check / I am checking

In Greek, the present tense can describe:

• something happening right now
• something done regularly or generally

So this sentence could mean either:

• I’m sewing the hem with small stitches and checking the seam, or
• I sew the hem with small stitches and check the seam

The exact meaning depends on context.

Το στρίφωμα means the hem, especially in clothing or fabric.

It is a neuter noun, which is why it takes the article το:

• το στρίφωμα = the hem

In this sentence, it is the direct object of ράβω, so it means I sew the hem.

Because στρίφωμα is a neuter singular noun.

The Greek definite article changes depending on gender, number, and case. Here the noun is:

• neuter
• singular
• accusative (because it is the direct object)

For neuter singular, the article is το in both the nominative and accusative:

• το στρίφωμα = the hem

So the form stays το.

Με μικρές βελονιές means with small stitches.

Breakdown:

• με = with
• μικρές = small
• βελονιές = stitches

In Modern Greek, με normally takes the accusative, so:

• βελονιά = stitch (dictionary form)
• βελονιές = stitches (plural here)

The adjective has to agree with the noun, so:

• μικρές βελονιές = small stitches

Both are feminine plural accusative.

Because adjectives in Greek must agree with the noun they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here, βελονιές is:

• feminine
• plural
• accusative

So the adjective must match that:

• μικρές βελονιές = small stitches

Compare:

• μικρή βελονιά = small stitch
• μικρές βελονιές = small stitches

They are related, but they do not mean the same thing.

• βελονιά = stitch
  A single stitch, or stitches as the small units made by sewing.

• ραφή = seam / stitching / sewn join
  The line or join created by sewing, or the sewn area itself.

So in this sentence:

• με μικρές βελονιές = using small stitches
• ελέγχω τη ραφή = I check the seam / the stitching

A simple way to remember it:

• βελονιά = the individual sewing action/mark
• ραφή = the result or line of sewing

Τη is a shortened form of την.

The full feminine singular accusative article is την, but in everyday Greek the final -ν is often dropped before many consonants. Since ραφή starts with ρ, it is very common to say:

• τη ραφή

You may also see spelling rules or styles that keep την in some contexts, but τη ραφή is completely normal and natural.

Because it is the direct object of ελέγχω.

The basic noun is:

• η ραφή = the seam (nominative)

But after a verb like ελέγχω (I check), the direct object goes in the accusative:

• τη ραφή = the seam

For many feminine nouns like this, the noun itself may look the same in nominative and accusative singular, while the article shows the case:

• η ραφή = subject form
• τη ραφή = object form

No, Greek word order is fairly flexible, although this version sounds natural and neutral:

• Ράβω το στρίφωμα με μικρές βελονιές και ελέγχω τη ραφή.

This order is straightforward:

1. verb
2. object
3. prepositional phrase
4. second verb
5. second object

Greek can move things around for emphasis, contrast, or style. For example, a speaker could emphasize με μικρές βελονιές if they wanted to stress the method. But the given sentence is a very normal, standard order.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

RAV-o to STREE-fo-ma me mee-KRES ve-lo-NYES ke e-LENG-ho tee ra-FEE

A few helpful notes:

• ράβω: stress on the first syllable → RA-vo
• στρίφωμα: stress on στρί-
• μικρές: stress on the second syllable
• βελονιές: stress on the last syllable
• ελέγχω: stress on the second syllable
• ραφή: stress on the last syllable

Also:

• β in Modern Greek sounds like v
• γχ in ελέγχω is a bit harder to match in English; it is often approximated for learners as something like ngh or nkh
• αι is pronounced like e
• η and ι are both pronounced like ee

Greek stress marks show which syllable is stressed, and stress can matter for correct pronunciation.

In this sentence:

• Ράβω
• στρίφωμα
• μικρές
• βελονιές
• ελέγχω
• ραφή

If you put the stress in the wrong place, you may sound unnatural or even be misunderstood. So it is worth learning each word together with its stress.

Yes. Greek present tense often covers both ideas.

So:

• Ράβω το στρίφωμα... can mean I sew the hem...
• or I am sewing the hem...

Likewise:

• ελέγχω τη ραφή can mean I check the seam
• or I am checking the seam

English forces you to choose more often between simple present and present continuous, but Greek present tense is broader.

Και means and.

It links the two actions:

• Ράβω το στρίφωμα...
• και ελέγχω τη ραφή

Yes, the subject stays the same: I do both actions. Greek does not need to repeat the subject pronoun because both verb forms already show first person singular.

So the sentence naturally means:

• I sew the hem with small stitches and check the seam.