Use of direct object pronoun 'Ci'

I understand the use of direct object pronouns in this lesson, however I am having difficulty understanding the use of ‘ci’ in this sentence:

Ci vediamo dopo  (See you later.)   It seems like it should be Vi vediamo dopo.

Can you explain please?

Hey Barbara-99ay, I am also an Italian student, but I will try to tackle your question.

In the sentence ‘Ci vediamo dopo’, the usage of the pronoun Ci makes the verb vedere reflexive, meaning something like ‘We will see each other later’.

To be explicit, the sentence could be written as ‘Noi ci vediamo dopo’.

The alternative pronoun ‘Vi’ you mentioned, would require the verb vedere conjugated as vedete: ‘Vi vedete dopo’, or explicitly: ‘Voi vi vedete dopo’. It sounds more formal, and since it is in the second personal pronoun of plural, it would have a different meaning, I suppose.

Hi Barbara,

In Italian, "ci" is a pronoun that has multiple uses, and in the sentence "Ci vediamo dopo," it's functioning as a reflexive pronoun combined with the verb "vedersi." Here's the breakdown:

- **Ci**: In this context, "ci" is a reflexive pronoun that translates to "ourselves" or "each other." It indicates that the action of seeing each other is directed back to the subjects involved.

- **Vediamo**: This is the first-person plural form of the verb "vedere," which means "to see."

- **Dopo**: This means "later" or "after."

So, "Ci vediamo dopo" translates to "We'll see each other later." It's a common way to say "See you later" or "Until later" in Italian.

The use of "ci" in this sentence emphasizes the mutual action of seeing each other, which is why it's used instead of "vi," which would be the direct object pronoun for "you" in the second person plural.

I hope this clarifies the usage of "ci" in the sentence "Ci vediamo dopo"! If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!