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Questions & Answers about Vidimo se u osam sati.
What does the se in Vidimo se do?
- se is a clitic (unstressed little word) that makes the verb reflexive/reciprocal. Here it means “we see each other,” which functions idiomatically as “See you.”
- Without se, vidimo just means “we see (something),” not a farewell or arrangement.
- So Vidimo se = “We’ll see each other / See you.”
Can se go at the start, like Se vidimo u osam sati?
- No. se can’t start a clause. It’s a second-position clitic: it usually comes after the first stressed word/phrase.
- Correct options:
- Vidimo se u osam sati.
- Sutra se vidimo u osam.
- U osam se vidimo.
- Incorrect: Se vidimo u osam.
Why is there no mi (“we”)?
- Croatian is a “pro-drop” language: verb endings show the subject.
- vidimo ends in -mo, which already means “we.”
- You can add mi for emphasis: Mi se vidimo u osam. (“We [as opposed to others] will see each other at eight.”)
What tense is vidimo, and is that normal for arrangements?
- vidimo is present tense of vidjeti (“to see”).
- Croatian often uses the present for near-future arrangements, just like English “See you at eight.”
- A more explicit future is fine too: Vidjet ćemo se u osam. (Note the placement: vidjet ćemo, not vidjeti ćemo.)
Is Vidimo se formal or informal?
- It’s neutral and widely used with friends, colleagues, and in polite contexts.
- For an even more neutral/planned vibe you can say Naći ćemo se u osam (“We’ll meet at eight”) or the suggestion/let’s form Nađimo se u osam.
Do I have to say sati? Is Vidimo se u osam okay?
- Both are fine:
- u osam (very common in speech)
- u osam sati (a bit more explicit/formal)
- In writing, you’ll also see numbers: u 8, u 8 sati, or the 24‑hour style u 20:00 / u 20 sati (for 8 p.m.).
Why is it osam sati and not osam sata?
- After 5 and above, Croatian uses the genitive plural of the counted noun: pet sati, osam sati.
- After 2–4, it’s genitive singular: dva sata, tri sata, četiri sata.
- So: osam sati is the regular form.
What case does u take with time, and do I need to worry about it here?
- With clock times/days meaning “at/on,” u takes the accusative: u ponedjeljak, u tri (sata), u osam (sati).
- Because numbers affect the noun form (see above), you’ll just learn the set phrases: u dva sata, u pet sati, u osam (sati).
How do I say a.m./p.m. in Croatian?
- Add a time-of-day word:
- u osam ujutro (8 a.m.)
- u osam navečer (8 p.m.)
- poslijepodne (afternoon), noću (at night)
- In formal contexts, 24‑hour style is common: u 20 sati (8 p.m.).
How do I say “around/by/in/for eight” correctly?
- Around eight: oko osam (or oko osam sati)
- By eight (deadline): do osam (or do osam sati)
- In eight hours (from now): za osam sati
- For eight hours (duration): na osam sati
Does osam sati ever mean “eight hours” (a duration)?
- Yes, without a preposition or clear context, osam sati can mean “eight hours.”
- Context or a preposition disambiguates:
- Time of day: u osam (sati) = “at eight o’clock”
- Duration: osam sati (standalone) or na/za osam sati depending on meaning
Is Vidimo se a complete, natural goodbye on its own?
- Yes. Vidimo se! is a very common standalone sign‑off meaning “See you!”
- You can add time for clarity: Vidimo se sutra / kasnije / u osam.
Any tricky time expressions I should watch out for?
- u pola osam means “at half to eight,” i.e., 7:30, not 8:30.
- Other examples:
- u osam i pet (minuta) = 8:05
- u petnaest do osam or u sedam i četrdeset pet = 7:45
Where else can se go if I add more words?
- Keep se in second position in the clause:
- Sutra se vidimo u osam.
- Mi se vidimo u osam.
- U osam se vidimo.
- Don’t split set phrases like u osam sati with se.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
- Rough guide: vee-dee-moh seh oo OH-sahm SAH-tee
- Tips:
- i = “ee”, u = “oo”
- Croatian v is between English v and w
- Stress typically on the first syllable of each word here: VÍdimo se u Ósam SÁti