Η λήψη αρχίζει τώρα.

Η is the definite article in Greek, meaning the.

In this sentence, η λήψη = the recording / the download / the reception, depending on context.

A very important detail: here η is the article, not the word ή meaning or.
They sound the same in Modern Greek, but they are spelled differently and mean different things.

• η = the
• ή = or

Because λήψη is a feminine noun.

Greek nouns have grammatical gender, so the article has to match the noun:

• ο = masculine the
• η = feminine the
• το = neuter the

Since λήψη is feminine, the correct form is η λήψη.

Λήψη can have several related meanings depending on context. Common ones include:

• recording
• reception
• download
• capture
• taking (in certain formal or technical expressions)

So the exact English translation depends on where you see the sentence.

For example:

• on a camera or voice app: Recording begins now
• on a phone or signal-related device: Reception begins now
• in a download interface: The download begins now

So even if the meaning is already given, a learner may notice that λήψη is a fairly broad noun.

It is pronounced roughly LEEP-see.

More precisely:

• λή- sounds like lee
• -ψη sounds like psee

The letter combination ψ is pronounced ps, like the end of lapse, but here it is at the start of the syllable.

So:

• λήψη → LEE-psi

The stress falls on the first syllable because of the accent: λήψη.

Here λήψη is:

• singular
• feminine
• nominative case

It is nominative because it is the subject of the sentence: the thing that begins.

So the structure is basically:

• Η λήψη = the subject
• αρχίζει = begins
• τώρα = now

Αρχίζει means begins or starts.

It comes from the verb αρχίζω, which means to begin / to start.

So:

• αρχίζω = I begin / I start
• αρχίζει = it begins / it starts

In this sentence, the subject is η λήψη, which is a singular thing, so Greek uses the third person singular form: αρχίζει.

It is the present tense.

Literally, it means begins / is beginning / starts, depending on context.

Greek present tense often covers what English expresses with either:

• the simple present: begins
• or sometimes the present progressive: is beginning

In a sentence like Η λήψη αρχίζει τώρα, English usually prefers begins now or is starting now.

Because the subject is η λήψη, which is:

• third person
• singular

So the verb must agree with that subject.

Compare:

• Εγώ αρχίζω = I begin
• Εσύ αρχίζεις = you begin
• Η λήψη αρχίζει = the recording/download begins

Even though λήψη is feminine, the verb form does not change for gender in the present tense. It changes for person and number, not masculine/feminine/neuter.

Τώρα means now.

It appears at the end because Greek word order is relatively flexible, and putting τώρα there sounds completely natural.

So:

• Η λήψη αρχίζει τώρα. = The recording begins now.

You could also see:

• Τώρα αρχίζει η λήψη.

That would still be correct, but the emphasis changes slightly:

• Η λήψη αρχίζει τώρα focuses first on the recording/download
• Τώρα αρχίζει η λήψη emphasizes now

Usually, in a normal full sentence, η sounds more natural.

• Η λήψη αρχίζει τώρα. = normal, complete sentence

If you remove the article:

• Λήψη αρχίζει τώρα

it sounds less natural in standard everyday Greek, though in very technical, telegraphic, or interface-style language you might sometimes see article dropping.

In most learner situations, it is safest to keep the article:

• η λήψη

It sounds quite natural, but it is especially common in formal, technical, or device/interface contexts.

For example, a Greek speaker might also say:

• Η εγγραφή αρχίζει τώρα. = The recording starts now.
• Ξεκινάει τώρα. = It’s starting now.

So Η λήψη αρχίζει τώρα is correct and natural, but it may sound a little more technical or context-dependent because of the noun λήψη.

Yes. In many contexts, ξεκινά or ξεκινάει can also mean starts.

For example:

• Η λήψη ξεκινά τώρα.
• Η λήψη αρχίζει τώρα.

Both are possible, but αρχίζει can sound a bit more formal or neutral, while ξεκινά often feels a little more everyday or conversational.

The exact preference depends on context and style.

Yes, especially for a learner:

• λήψη has the stress on the first syllable: ΛΗ-ψη
• αρχίζει has the stress on the second-to-last syllable: αρ-ΧΙ-ζει
• τώρα has the stress on the first syllable: ΤΩ-ρα

Greek accents are important because they show which syllable is stressed.

Also notice again:

• η = the article, no accent
• ή = or, with an accent

That difference is very common and worth memorizing early.