Vidim se u ogledalu.

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Breakdown of Vidim se u ogledalu.

• vidjeti: to see
• ogledalo: mirror
• se: myself

Questions & Answers about Vidim se u ogledalu.

Why is there no word for I in this sentence?

In Croatian, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

• vidim = I see
• the ending -im tells you the subject is I

So Vidim se u ogledalu is completely natural without ja.

You could say Ja se vidim u ogledalu, but that usually adds emphasis, like I can see myself.

What does se mean here?

Se is a reflexive particle. In this sentence, it shows that the action goes back to the subject:

• vidim = I see
• vidim se = I see myself

So se is what gives the idea of myself here.

It is very common in Croatian with reflexive verbs and reflexive meanings.

Why is it vidim se and not something like vidim sebe?

Both are possible, but they are not used in exactly the same way.

• vidim se = the normal, neutral way to say I see myself
• vidim sebe = more emphatic, like I see myself / my own self

So in an ordinary statement, se is the most natural choice.