Vidimo se kraj fontane u šest sati.

Because that is basically how Croatian builds this idea.

• vidimo = we see
• se = a reflexive clitic, often meaning something like ourselves / each other / one another, depending on context

In this expression, Vidimo se means See you or We’ll see each other. It is a very common way to talk about meeting again.

So even though the literal structure feels different from English, the natural meaning is simply See you / We’ll meet.

Croatian often expresses this idea from the perspective of both people: we see each other.

English says:

• See you at six.

Croatian naturally says:

• Vidimo se u šest sati.
• literally: We see each other at six.

So the verb is in the 1st person plural because the action involves both speaker and listener.

Se is a very common Croatian clitic. In this sentence, it helps form the meaning see each other rather than just see.

Compare:

• Vidimo fontanu. = We see the fountain.
• Vidimo se. = We see each other.

With some verbs, se can make the verb reflexive, reciprocal, or just part of a fixed expression. Here it gives the idea of mutual seeing / meeting.

That is completely normal in Croatian.

Vidimo se kraj fontane u šest sati. uses the present tense to talk about a planned future meeting, much like English can say:

• I’m seeing her tomorrow.
• We meet at six.

So Croatian often uses the present tense for scheduled or agreed future events.

Here kraj means by, near, or next to.

So:

• kraj fontane = by the fountain

It is a preposition used to show location. In everyday Croatian, learners may also hear similar words like:

• kod = at / by / near
• pored = beside / next to

In this sentence, kraj fontane is a natural way to say by the fountain.

Because kraj requires the genitive case.

The base form is:

• fontana = fountain

After kraj, it changes to the genitive singular:

• kraj fontane = by the fountain

So the ending changes because the preposition controls the case of the noun.

It is genitive singular.

The noun fontana is a feminine noun, and its genitive singular form is fontane.

So:

• nominative: fontana
• genitive: fontane

That is why you get kraj fontane.

Literally, it means at six hours, but naturally it means at six o’clock.

Breakdown:

• u = at / in
• šest = six
• sati = a time expression related to hours/o’clock

As a whole, u šest sati is just the standard way to say at six o’clock.

Because Croatian numbers affect the form of the noun that follows them.

With pet and higher numbers, Croatian commonly uses a form like sati in time expressions:

• pet sati = five o’clock
• šest sati = six o’clock
• sedam sati = seven o’clock

So šest sati is the normal expression.

Yes, very often.

Both are natural:

• Vidimo se u šest.
• Vidimo se u šest sati.

The shorter version is very common in everyday speech. Adding sati can sound a bit more explicit or complete, but both are correct.

Here u is used for a time point, and the phrase functions as a fixed time expression meaning at six o’clock.

For learners, the important thing is to learn u + time as a set pattern:

• u pet
• u šest
• u deset sati

So even if the grammar behind time expressions can get complicated, the practical takeaway is: use u to say at a certain clock time.

Yes. Croatian word order is fairly flexible.

The original sentence:

• Vidimo se kraj fontane u šest sati.

Other possible orders include:

• U šest sati vidimo se kraj fontane.
• Kraj fontane vidimo se u šest sati.

But the original order sounds very natural and neutral. It is usually best for learners to stick with that unless they want to emphasize a particular part, such as the time or place.

Because Croatian usually omits subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb ending already shows the subject:

• vidim = I see
• vidiš = you see
• vidimo = we see

So vidimo already tells you that the subject is we, and adding mi would usually only be for emphasis.

No. There are several possible ways, depending on nuance and style.

For example:

• kraj fontane = by / near the fountain
• pored fontane = next to / beside the fountain
• kod fontane = at / by the fountain

All can work in many situations, but they are not always identical in tone or exact meaning. In your sentence, kraj fontane is perfectly natural.

A simple approximate pronunciation for an English speaker is:

VEE-dee-mo seh krai fon-TAH-neh oo shest SAH-tee

A few useful sound notes:

• v is like English v
• i is like ee in see
• j is like English y
• aj in kraj sounds like eye
• š sounds like sh
• c would sound like ts, but there is no plain c in this sentence

So:

• Vidimo ≈ VEE-dee-mo
• se ≈ seh
• kraj ≈ krai
• fontane ≈ fon-TAH-neh
• u ≈ oo
• šest ≈ shest
• sati ≈ SAH-tee

It is neutral and very natural. You can use it in everyday conversation with friends, classmates, coworkers, and in many normal situations.

It is not especially formal, but it is not slangy either. It is a standard, correct sentence.