Learn Hardcore Italian: Stasera ci riuniamo a casa mia per studiare. - Tonight we are getting together at my place to study.

Here ci is the reflexive/reciprocal pronoun for the first-person plural, giving riunirsi the meaning we meet/get together (literally, we gather ourselves/each other). Without ci, riuniamo would be a transitive verb meaning we bring together (something/someone), which is not the intended meaning here.

Could ci here mean there, as in place?

No. In this sentence ci belongs to the pronominal verb riunirsi and means ourselves/each other. The adverbial ci meaning there would appear with a different verb (e.g., Ci andiamo stasera = we’re going there tonight).

Why is the present tense (ci riuniamo) used to talk about tonight (a future time)?

Italian often uses the present for near-future, planned events when a time expression is present. Stasera ci riuniamo… is very natural. You can also use the future: Stasera ci riuniremo…, which sounds a bit more formal or emphatic.

Do I need to say Noi (Noi ci riuniamo)?

No. Italian usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the subject. Noi can be added for emphasis or contrast: Noi ci riuniamo, loro no (We are meeting, they aren’t).

What’s the difference between riunirsi, incontrarsi, vedersi, and trovarsi/ritrovarsi?

riunirsi: to assemble/meet as a group, often with a purpose (committees, study groups).
incontrarsi: to meet each other (neutral, either planned or by chance).
vedersi: to see each other (very common for social plans; slightly more informal).
trovarsi: to meet/turn up somewhere; ritrovarsi: to meet again or end up.
In this sentence, riunirsi fits because there’s a specific purpose: studying.

Is riunire without -si a different verb?

Yes. Riunire (transitive) means to bring/gather together: Riuniamo il gruppo (We bring the group together). Riunirsi (intransitive/pronominal) means to meet/assemble: Ci riuniamo (We meet).

How do you conjugate riunirsi in the present?

It’s an -ire verb of the -isc- type:

io mi riunisco
tu ti riunisci
lui/lei si riunisce
noi ci riuniamo
voi vi riunite
loro si riuniscono
Note that noi and voi don’t take the -isc- insert.

Why is it a casa mia and not something like alla mia casa?

With casa in the sense of home, Italian commonly uses a casa (at home). When specifying whose home, you say a casa mia / tua / sua… without an article. Alla mia casa is grammatical but sounds odd here; it points to a building rather than the idiomatic idea of home.

Could I say da me instead of a casa mia?

Yes. Da me (at my place) is very common and a bit more colloquial. So: Stasera ci riuniamo da me per studiare is perfectly natural.

What’s the nuance of a casa mia vs in casa mia?

a casa mia = at my place (neutral location).
in casa mia = inside my house (emphasizes being inside the home).
For a meeting location, a casa mia is the default choice.

Why is the possessive mia after casa here?

The set phrase is casa mia (home of mine). You can also say la mia casa when you mean my house as a property or when the focus is on the noun itself. In location expressions, a casa mia is the idiomatic pattern.

Could I use questa sera instead of stasera?

Yes. Stasera and questa sera are interchangeable in most contexts. Stasera is a bit more colloquial and is written as one word. Note: stanotte refers to tonight at night/overnight.

Do I need a comma after Stasera?

No. Stasera ci riuniamo… is fine without a comma. A comma is optional for emphasis: Stasera, ci riuniamo…

Why is it per studiare and not a studiare?

Per + infinitive expresses purpose (in order to). After verbs like riunirsi, use per: ci riuniamo per studiare. A + infinitive is used after certain verbs (often of motion or beginning): Veniamo a studiare, Inizio a studiare. Don’t say per a studiare.

Could I drop the place and just say we’re meeting to study?

Yes: Stasera ci riuniamo per studiare is complete and natural even without mentioning the location.

What about word order—can I move stasera or the place?

Yes. All of these are fine, with slight changes in emphasis:

Stasera ci riuniamo a casa mia per studiare.
Ci riuniamo a casa mia stasera per studiare.
Ci riuniamo stasera a casa mia per studiare.

How would I say Let’s meet at my place to study?

Use the inclusive imperative with enclisis: Riuniamoci a casa mia per studiare.
More colloquial: Vediamoci a casa mia per studiare.

Any quick pronunciation tips for the tricky parts?

ci sounds like English “chee.”
riuniamo has four syllables: ri-u-nià-mo (stress on -à-).
stasera is one word: sta-sé-ra (stress on -sé-).

Is perché ever used instead of per for purpose?

They’re different. Per studiare = in order to study (purpose). Perché introduces a reason clause: Ci riuniamo perché dobbiamo studiare (We’re meeting because we have to study). Both are correct, but they structure the idea differently.