Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Ми збираємося зустрітися навпроти парку.

Збираємося means we intend/plan to do something; it functions like English be going to. In this sentence it introduces an intended action: we are going to meet. It does not mean we are physically gathering together here (though збиратися can mean to gather in other contexts).

Why is the second verb зустрітися in the infinitive?

After збиратися (to be going to), Ukrainian uses an infinitive to express the planned action. So ми збираємося зустрітися mirrors English we are going to meet.

What does the ending -ся do in збираємося and зустрітися?

The clitic -ся makes the verb reflexive/reciprocal. With зустрітися, it means meet each other. Without it, зустріти would need a direct object (to meet someone). Збиратися is inherently reflexive in the sense of getting oneself ready or intending.

Why is it the perfective зустрітися and not the imperfective зустрічатися?

Perfective зустрітися refers to a single, completed event (meet once). Imperfective зустрічатися describes ongoing or repeated action (to meet regularly, to be meeting, or even to be dating). Here, a single planned meeting is intended, so perfective fits.

Can I say Ми зустрічаємося навпроти парку instead?

You can, but it usually means we meet there regularly or we are in the process of meeting. It can also be understood as we are dating. For a one-time planned meeting, stick with Ми збираємося зустрітися… or Ми зустрінемося….

Could I just say Ми зустрінемося навпроти парку? What’s the difference?

Yes. Ми зустрінемося… (future perfective) states the event will happen. Ми збираємося зустрітися… emphasizes intention/arrangement. Both are natural; the latter highlights the plan.

Why is it парку and not парк after навпроти?

Because навпроти governs the genitive case. Парк in the genitive singular is парку. Other examples: навпроти школи, навпроти театру.

Why does the genitive of парк end in -у (парку) and not -а (парка)?

Masculine nouns have two genitive endings, -а/-я and -у/-ю. Which one appears depends on semantics and tradition. With locations after prepositions like навпроти/біля/коло, many place nouns take -у/-ю: біля університету, коло магазину, навпроти парку. Memorize common collocations; there are exceptions.

Is there a difference between навпроти and напроти?

Both forms are correct and mean opposite/across from, and both take the genitive. Навпроти is more common in modern standard usage as a preposition, but напроти is also widely used.

How is навпроти different from перед, біля, or через дорогу від?

навпроти
- genitive: directly opposite/across from something.
перед
- instrumental: in front of (not necessarily across the street).
біля
- genitive: near/by.
через дорогу від
- genitive: across the road from (near-synonym of навпроти, explicitly mentions a road).

Is the word order fixed? Can I move навпроти парку?

Ukrainian word order is flexible. Common options:

Ми збираємося зустрітися навпроти парку. (neutral)
Навпроти парку ми збираємося зустрітися. (focuses the location)
Ми збираємося навпроти парку зустрітися. (possible, a bit less common) Avoid splitting ми зустрітися збираємося; that sounds awkward.

Can I omit ми?

Yes. The verb form shows person and number, so Збираємося зустрітися навпроти парку is possible in context. Including ми is the most neutral and clear.

How do I say who we are meeting?

Use зустрітися з + instrumental:

Ми збираємося зустрітися з Анною навпроти парку.
Ми зустрінемося з другом навпроти парку.

What about the short forms -сь like зустрітись or збираємось?

The reflexive -ся often shortens to -сь after a vowel, especially in informal style and speech. So зустрітися/зустрітись and збираємося/збираємось are both correct. The full -ся is slightly more formal.

Are there synonyms for зустрітися?

Yes. Побачитися also means meet/see each other and is very common: Ми збираємося побачитися навпроти парку. In casual speech, перетнутися (to cross paths) can work for an informal, perhaps brief meeting.

How would I add a time?

You can say:

… навпроти парку о п’ятій. (at five o’clock; locative)
… навпроти парку в п’ять. (at five; accusative numeral phrase) Both are natural.

Where are the articles (a/the) in Ukrainian?

Ukrainian has no articles. Definiteness is inferred from context. Навпроти парку can mean across from a/ the park depending on the situation.