Learn Hardcore Croatian: Vidimo se za minutu.

se is the reflexive/reciprocal clitic. With a plural subject, it means “each other”: vidjeti se = “to see each other / to meet.” Without se, vidimo would need a direct object (e.g., Vidimo film = “We see the movie”). So Vidimo se is the idiomatic “See you (we’ll see each other).”

Why is the present tense (vidimo) used even though it refers to the near future?

In this farewell formula, the present is used with future meaning. vidjeti behaves like a perfective when it means “meet/see (once),” so its “present” often refers to a single future event. If you want an explicit future, say Vidjet ćemo se za minutu. Both are natural.

Why is it minutu, not minuta?

Because za takes the accusative case, and feminine -a nouns have -u in the accusative singular: minuta → minutu. Hence za minutu = “in a minute (from now).”

Can I say za jednu minutu?

Yes—grammatical and a bit more emphatic (“in exactly one minute”). In everyday speech people usually just say za minutu.

What’s the difference between za minutu and na minutu?

za minutu = “in a minute (from now)” — time until something happens.
na minutu = “for a minute” — duration. Example: Mogu ući na minutu? (“Can I come in for a minute?”)

How do I say “in two/five minutes,” and why do the endings change?

za dvije minute (in two minutes)
za tri/četiri minute
za pet minuta, za šest minuta, etc. Explanation: after 2–4, the noun is genitive singular (minute); after 5+, genitive plural (minuta). With 1, it’s accusative singular (minutu).

Is minut (without -a) used in Croatian?

In standard Croatian, use minuta. minut is common in Serbian and in some regional speech; Croatians will understand it, but standard Croatian (especially in writing) prefers minuta.

Can I say Se vidimo za minutu? in a question?

No. Clitic se cannot start a clause. Use:

Standard: Vidimo li se za minutu?
Colloquial: Jel se vidimo za minutu?
Or with future: Hoćemo li se vidjeti za minutu?

Is Vidimo se za minutu formal or informal?

Neutral and widely acceptable. You can use it with friends, colleagues, or politely. On the phone, if you won’t meet in person, Čujemo se (“Talk to you”) is more natural.

How do I pronounce it?

vee-dee-moh seh zah mee-NOO-too.

i = ee; u = oo; z as in “zoo.”
t is unaspirated; se is very short/unstressed.

Are there other natural ways to say “in a minute/very soon”?

Yes:

Vidimo se za čas / za tren / za sekundu (in a moment / in a sec).
Vidimo se uskoro (see you soon).
You can also use the time phrase alone: Za minutu!

Why not Vidimo se u minutu?

Croatian uses za + accusative for “in X time (from now).” u is used for clock times (u pet = at five) or location. So say za minutu, not u minutu. You might see točno u minutu meaning “to the minute,” but that’s a different meaning.

What’s the difference between vidjeti se and viđati se?

vidjeti se (often perfective in this sense): one meeting/occasion — Vidimo se za minutu/sutra.
viđati se (imperfective, habitual): repeated meetings — Viđamo se često (“We see each other often”). Avoid Vidimo se često for habitual meaning.

Is there any difference between Vidimo se za minutu and Vidjet ćemo se za minutu?

Meaning is the same. Vidimo se... is shorter and very common in speech and messages. Vidjet ćemo se... is more explicit and can sound slightly more formal or careful.

Can I drop the time and just say Vidimo se?

Absolutely. Vidimo se! is the default friendly goodbye (“See you!”). Add a time only if you want to specify when: Vidimo se sutra / uskoro / za minutu.

Does za minutu have to mean exactly 60 seconds?

No. Like English “in a minute,” it often just means “very soon,” not necessarily a literal 60 seconds.

Could za minutu mean “for a minute,” like in English?

No. For duration “for a minute,” use na minutu / na jednu minutu. za minutu always means “in a minute (from now).”