A compact head-up display for a vehicle includes: an image generator that displays an image on a display surface, and a semi-reflecting optical element, arranged at a distance from the image generator, that forms, on a first side of the optical element, a virtual image. The virtual image is visible from a viewing window on a second side of the optical element. The display includes an optical component that lengthens the optical path of the image passing from the image generator to the optical element. The optical component includes one entry face and one exit face, and a first reflecting face and a second reflecting face. The first reflecting face reflects the image from the entry face toward the second reflecting face. The second reflecting face reflects the image from the first reflecting face toward the exit face. The entry face is in contact with the display surface.