Learn Croatian: Ostat ćemo ovdje za vikend. - We will stay here for the weekend.

Ćemo is the short (clitic) form of hoćemo, which means 'we want'. However, in Croatian, these short forms of htjeti are used as helper verbs to create the future tense. When combined with the main verb ostati, it translates to 'we will stay' rather than 'we want to stay'.

Why is the verb ostati (to stay) written as ostat here?

When a verb in its dictionary form (the infinitive) ends in -ti and is placed immediately before a short future tense word like ćemo, Croatian drops the final 'i'. This makes the pronunciation smoother. So, ostati + ćemo becomes ostat ćemo.

Where is the Croatian word for 'we' in this sentence?

Croatian frequently drops subject pronouns like mi (we) because the helper verb already tells you who is acting. The word ćemo specifically means 'we will'. You would only add mi if you wanted to strongly emphasize that we (and not someone else) are staying.

Is vikend a borrowed word, and does it change form after za?