Vidimo se točno u osam ispred kina.

See you exactly at eight in front of the cinema.

Breakdown of Vidimo se točno u osam ispred kina.

• ispred: in front of
• u: at
• vidjeti: to see
• se: each other
• osam: eight
• kino: cinema
• točno: exactly

Questions & Answers about Vidimo se točno u osam ispred kina.

What does Vidimo se actually mean, and why is “we” missing?

• Vidimo is the 1st person plural present of vidjeti (to see) = “we see.”
• se is a reflexive/reciprocal clitic, here meaning “each other.”
• Croatian usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject, so mi (“we”) isn’t needed.
• Idiomatically, Vidimo se means “See you (then),” and the present tense is often used for scheduled near-future plans.

What is the function and placement of se?

• se marks a reflexive/reciprocal action: vidjeti se = “to see each other.”
• It is a clitic and must sit in the “second position” in the clause.
• Correct: Vidimo se točno u osam…; Točno u osam se vidimo…; Ispred kina se vidimo…
• Incorrect: Se vidimo… (a clitic can’t start the sentence), or Vidimo u osam se… (wrong placement).

Can I say Vidjet ćemo se instead? Is there a difference?

• Yes: Vidjet ćemo se točno u osam ispred kina. That’s the explicit future tense (“We will see each other…”).
• Vidimo se is shorter and very common for arrangements; Vidjet ćemo se can sound a bit more formal or emphatic about futurity.
• Clitic order: Vidjet ćemo se… (not: ✗Vidjet se ćemo).

Why is it točno and not točan? Where should it go?

• točno is an adverb (“exactly, precisely”), which is what you need to modify the time.
• točan is an adjective (“exact, accurate”) and wouldn’t fit here.
• Most natural: točno u osam. You may also hear u točno osam (sati), but the given order is more idiomatic.

Why u osam and not na osam? Which case is used?

• Clock times use u + Accusative to mean “at [time]”: u osam, u pet, u jedanaest.
• With numbers like osam (8), the form doesn’t change here, but the construction is still u + Accusative.
• Don’t use na for clock time.

Do I need to add the word “hours” (sati)?

• No. u osam is enough in everyday speech.
• You can add it for clarity or formality: u osam sati or točno u osam sati.

How do I specify 8 a.m. vs 8 p.m.?

• Add a time-of-day word:
  • u osam ujutro (8 a.m.)
  • u osam navečer (8 p.m.)
  • Also possible: poslijepodne (afternoon), noću (at night).

Why is it kina and not kino after ispred?

• ispred (“in front of”) governs the Genitive case.
• kino (Nom. sg.) → kina (Gen. sg.): hence ispred kina.
• Singular forms for reference: N kino, G kina, D kinu, A kino, L kinu, I kinom.

Can I use pred instead of ispred? Are there case differences?

• Yes, both are common for location:
  • Location: pred kinom (Instrumental) ≈ ispred kina (Genitive).
  • Direction/motion (with pred): Dođi pred kino. (Accusative)
• With ispred, you always use Genitive (ispred kina) whether you mean location or arriving there; the verb shows motion.
• Note: pred can also mean “before” in time: pred Božić (“before Christmas”).

What’s the difference between ispred kina and u kinu?

• ispred kina = “in front of the cinema.”
• u kinu (Locative) = “in the cinema/inside.”
• For motion into the cinema, use u kino (Accusative): Idem u kino.

Can I change the order of the time and place parts?

• Yes, word order is flexible. All of these are natural:
  • Vidimo se ispred kina točno u osam.
  • Vidimo se točno u osam ispred kina.
  • Točno u osam se vidimo ispred kina.
• Just keep se in second position within its clause.

Can this be used as a casual sign‑off? Any alternatives?

• Yes. Vidimo se! is a very common “See you!”
• You can add time/place: Vidimo se sutra/uskoro/kasnije, Vidimo se ispred kina.
• To propose: Nađimo se točno u osam ispred kina. (“Let’s meet exactly at eight in front of the cinema.”)

How do I turn it into a yes/no question?

• Just use rising intonation: Vidimo se točno u osam ispred kina?
• Inversion with li: Vidimo li se točno u osam ispred kina?
• Future option: Hoćemo li se vidjeti točno u osam ispred kina?
• Remember: not Se vidimo…?; clitics can’t start a sentence.

How do I pronounce č and the sentence overall?

• č sounds like “ch” in “church.”
• Rough guide: VEE-dee-mo seh TOHCH-no oo OH-sahm EES-prehd KEE-nah.

Can I write the time with digits?

• Yes: Vidimo se točno u 8 ispred kina. or …u 8:00…
• Keep a space after u: u 8, not u8.