Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Ми зустрічаємося або у кафе, або в парку. - We meet either at the cafe or in the park.

Without it: ми зустрічаємо когось = we meet/pick up/greet someone (transitive).
With it: ми зустрічаємося (з кимось) = we meet (with someone)/we’re meeting each other.

Is ми зустрічаємося “we meet” or “we are meeting”?

Both are possible. Ukrainian has one present tense that covers simple and progressive meanings. Context or time words clarify:

Habit: Ми часто зустрічаємося.
Now/arranged: Ми зустрічаємося сьогодні ввечері.

Why is it у кафе but в парку? Aren’t they the same preposition?

В/у are euphonic variants of the same preposition (“in/at/into”). Speakers choose the one that sounds smoother in context and often alternate them to avoid repetition. In this sentence, alternating у … в … sounds natural. You could also say або в кафе, або у парку—both are fine.

Is в кафе wrong?

Not at all. Both у кафе and в кафе are correct. Choice depends on what sounds better in the sentence.

Why doesn’t кафе change form, but парк becomes парку?

кафе is an indeclinable neuter noun: it keeps the same form in all cases. Locative looks identical: у кафе.
парк declines. With a location meaning, в/у takes the Locative: (у/в) парку “in the park.”

When would it be в парк instead of в парку?

Use Accusative for motion “into”: йдемо в парк = we’re going into the park. Use Locative for location: ми в парку = we’re in the park.

What’s the difference between або … або … and a single або?

Both express “either … or ….” The repeated form is more balanced/emphatic:

Ми зустрічаємося або у кафе, або в парку.
Shorter: Ми зустрічаємося у кафе або в парку. Meaning is the same.

Could I use чи instead of або?

Yes: … у кафе, чи в парку or чи … чи …. Nuance:

або often feels more categorical/exclusive (“one of the two”).
чи is frequent in questions and also fine in statements as a neutral “or.”

Why is there a comma after кафе?

With repeated conjunctions like або … або …, many writers do not use a comma. A comma can be added to mirror a slight pause or for clarity. Both punctuations are encountered.

Is the subject pronoun ми necessary?

No. It’s often dropped because the verb ending shows the person:

Зустрічаємося або у кафе, або в парку. Using ми adds clarity or emphasis.

Can I write зустрічаємось instead of зустрічаємося?

Yes. Ukrainian allows both -ся and the shortened -сь after vowels. So зустрічаємося and зустрічаємось are both acceptable. In very formal writing, the full form is often preferred.

Where is the stress in these words?

зустріча́ємося
кафе́
па́рку Correct stress helps distinguish forms and sound natural.

Why в/у and not на (as in “на парку/кафе”)?

For physical location inside/at a place, Ukrainian typically uses в/у: у парку, в кафе. На is used with surfaces, institutions, events, or set expressions: на вокзалі (at the station), на стадіоні (at the stadium), на кухні (in the kitchen). For “park/café,” use в/у.

Does у кафе mean “at a café” or “in a café”?

It can mean either, depending on context. Ukrainian в/у with location often covers both English “in” and “at.”

How do I say “meet with someone” explicitly?

Use зустріча́тися/зустрі́тися + з + Instrumental:

Ми зустрічаємося з дру́зями.
Ми зустрі́немося з Іва́ном.

How do I express a single arranged meeting in the future?

Use the perfective future of зустрітися:

Ми зустрі́немося або у кафе, або в парку. For ongoing/habitual future, use imperfective: Ми будемо зустріча́тися… or the synthetic зустрічати́мемося.