Learn Hardcore Croatian: Vidimo se preksutra u parku. - See you the day after tomorrow in the park.

In this expression, Vidimo se is used as a fixed phrase meaning “See you” or “We’ll see each other.” Even though it’s grammatically present tense, Croatian (like many languages) often uses the present to talk about planned future events, especially with a time expression like preksutra (the day after tomorrow).

Why do we need se in Vidimo se?

Se is a reflexive pronoun. With vidjeti, adding se makes the meaning reciprocal: vidimo se = “we see each other.”

Vidimo te. – We see you. (no reciprocity)
Vidimo se. – We see each other / See you.

In a farewell context, Vidimo se is a very common idiomatic way to say “See you”. You cannot drop se here; Vidimo alone would sound incomplete or odd in this context.

Why is there no subject pronoun like mi (“we”)?

Croatian is a pro‑drop language: subject pronouns are usually omitted because the verb ending already shows the subject.

Vidimo → ending -mo clearly marks “we”.
Adding mi (Mi se vidimo preksutra u parku) is grammatically possible but usually adds emphasis, like “We (as opposed to others) will see each other…”

In normal, neutral speech you simply say Vidimo se… without mi.

Can I change the word order, for example Vidimo se u parku preksutra?

Yes. Croatian word order is fairly flexible, especially for adverbs of time and place.

All of these are grammatically fine and mean the same thing in most contexts:

Vidimo se preksutra u parku.
Vidimo se u parku preksutra.
Preksutra se vidimo u parku.
U parku se vidimo preksutra.

The differences are mostly in focus/emphasis. Starting with Preksutra emphasizes when, starting with U parku emphasizes where. The original sentence is a very natural, neutral order.

What does preksutra function as in the sentence? Is it a noun?

Preksutra is an adverb of time, like “tomorrow” or “yesterday” in English. It’s not declined (no case endings), and it’s not a noun.

It simply answers the question kada? – when?
So:

Vidimo se kada? – preksutra.

It behaves like sutra (tomorrow) and jučer (yesterday).

I’ve also seen prekosutra. What’s the difference between preksutra and prekosutra?

The more standard dictionary form is prekosutra.
However, in everyday speech many people say preksutra as a shortened, colloquial variant, and it’s widely understood.

In formal writing or exams, you will usually see prekosutra.
In informal speech, you will hear both prekosutra and preksutra.

Your sentence uses the colloquial form, which sounds natural in casual conversation.

Why is it u parku and not u park?

This is about cases. The preposition u (“in / at”) can take different cases depending on meaning:

With location (where?), u takes the locative case.
With direction (into where?) / movement, u takes the accusative case.

Here, u parku answers gdje? – Where (will we see each other)?
So, park must be in the locative singular:

Nominative: park (dictionary form)
Locative: parku → u parku = in the park / at the park

Saying u park would sound like “into the park” and would need a verb of motion (e.g. Idemo u park – We’re going to the park).

What case is parku exactly?

Parku is in the locative singular case.

The locative is used almost only with prepositions to express location:

u parku – in/at the park
na stolu – on the table
u gradu – in the city

So the structure is:
u (preposition) + parku (locative singular of park).

Why is there no word for “the” before parku?

Croatian has no articles (no “a”, “an”, or “the”). Whether something is definite or indefinite is usually clear from context, word order, or additional words.

U parku can mean:

“in the park”
sometimes, more generally, “in a park”

English forces you to choose “a/the”, but Croatian does not need any separate word here.

Is Vidimo se formal or informal? Can I say it to anyone?

Vidimo se is neutral and widely usable. You can say it:

to friends and family,
to colleagues,
even to someone you address formally with Vi, as long as the situation is not extremely formal or ceremonial.

It’s similar in tone to English “See you”.
If you needed to be more formal and explicit about the future, you might use Vidjet ćemo se or add a title/name, but Vidimo se is acceptable in most everyday contexts.

What is the difference between Vidimo se preksutra and Vidjet ćemo se preksutra?

Both mean “We’ll see each other the day after tomorrow.”

Vidimo se preksutra.
– Present tense used for a planned future event; very common and conversational.
Vidjet ćemo se preksutra.
– Explicit future tense (future I: vidjet ćemo); can sound a bit more formal, careful, or emphatic.

In everyday speech, Vidimo se preksutra is more frequent and perfectly natural.