Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| adiós | /aˈdjos/ | |
| chau | /ˈt͡ʃau/ | alternative form |
| chao | /ˈt͡ʃaw/ | |
| bay | /ˈbai/ | Latin America |
| agur | /aˈɡuɾ/ | |
| abur | /aˈbuɾ/ | alternative form |
The words in this pack are all used to express a departure or a farewell. The standard and most widely used way to say goodbye is adiós. For a more casual, colloquial feeling similar to the English 'bye', you can use chao, which is a variation of the Italian 'ciao' used among friends and family. Other ways to express departure include nos vemos (we'll see each other), which is a flexible and neutral option and hasta pronto (see you soon), which is typically used among friends and acquaintances. If you expect to see someone again later in the day or week, you might use the informal nos vemos luego. For a warmer farewell to someone you know well, you can say cuídate (take care).
Which one should you use?
While chao is an informal, colloquial way to say bye, adiós is the standard and slightly more formal way to say goodbye. The form chau is simply an alternative spelling of chao. Additionally, agur and its alternative spelling abur are distinct forms within the language.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Chao is informal and used with friends and family. In contrast, adiós is the standard form and is considered more formal than the colloquial alternatives. If you want to be very polite or formal, such as when wishing someone a good day, you can use que tenga un buen día/tarde/noche. For formal settings or when speaking with colleagues, hasta la próxima (until next time) is appropriate. In formal contexts, hasta luego (until later) is also a suitable option.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of the Southern Cone, such as Argentina and Uruguay, chau is the preferred spelling for the informal 'bye'. In Latin America, the form bay is also used. In Mexico, it is common to say nos vemos al rato to mean 'see you in a bit'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtʃaw/
When do people say it?
When saying goodbye in a polite or formal setting, it is common to wish the person well by saying que tenga un buen día/tarde/noche (have a good day/afternoon/night).
Did you know?
- The casual farewell chao is a linguistic doublet of the Spanish word esclavo, meaning 'slave'.
- The Basque-influenced forms agur and abur are used for farewells in specific regions, distinct from the more global adiós.
- Using adiós can sometimes imply a more permanent farewell than hasta luego, similar to the difference between 'goodbye' and 'see you later'.
Examples in context
- Se fue sin decir adiós.He went off without saying good-bye.This sentence shows the use of adiós.Tatoeba #2160479 by Shishir, translation #290039 by CM
- ¡Hola y chao! Soy Nonong.Hello and bye! I'm Nonong.This sentence uses chao.Tatoeba #1393557 by marcelostockle, translation #1502382 by gleki
- Ya me tengo que ir. ¡Chao!I have to go now. Bye!Tatoeba #3182257 by marcelostockle, translation #2093311 by gleki
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are leaving a coffee shop.
- Mateo¡Chao, Sofía! Nos vemos mañana.Bye, Sofía! See you tomorrow.
- Sofía¡Chao, Mateo! Que te vaya bien.Bye, Mateo! Hope everything goes well.
- MateoGracias, ¡chao!Thanks, bye!
- SofíaHasta luego.See you later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries adiós, chau, chao, bay, agur, abur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adiós, bay, chao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
