Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| adiós | /aˈdjos/ | |
| chau | /ˈt͡ʃau/ | alternative form |
| chao | /ˈt͡ʃaw/ | |
| agur | /aˈɡuɾ/ | |
| abur | /aˈbuɾ/ | alternative form |
| bay | /ˈbai/ | Latin America |
While adiós is the standard way to say goodbye, it can sometimes imply a more permanent or long-term departure compared to more casual alternatives. For other ways to say goodbye, you might use Hasta pronto to mean 'see you soon', which works in both formal and informal situations or the informal Nos vemos ('see you') and ¡Cuídate! ('take care').
Which one should you use?
adiós is the standard, more formal way to say goodbye, whereas chao is a common, informal way to say 'bye'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
adiós can be used informally but is considered the standard and more formal option. In contrast, chao is a common, informal way to say 'bye'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
chau is an alternative spelling of chao and is used extensively in Argentina, Uruguay and other parts of Latin America. In Latin America, you may also encounter the form bay. agur and its alternative spelling abur are also forms used in the language.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈdjos/
Did you know?
- The Italian origin of chao is tied to a phrase meaning 'I am your slave', which was intended as a sign of deep respect.
- The word adiós literally translates to 'to God', following the same structure as the French 'adieu'.
- While chao is used for departures, in some Spanish-speaking contexts it can also be used as a greeting to say 'hello'.
Examples in context
- Se fue sin decir adiós.He went off without saying good-bye.This sentence shows how to use adiós when someone leaves without speaking.Tatoeba #2160479 by Shishir, translation #290039 by CM
- ¡Hola y chao! Soy Nonong.Hello and bye! I'm Nonong.This sentence uses chao as a casual greeting and departure.Tatoeba #1393557 by marcelostockle, translation #1502382 by gleki
- Ya me tengo que ir. ¡Chao!I have to go now. Bye!This sentence shows the use of chao when expressing the need to leave.Tatoeba #3182257 by marcelostockle, translation #2093311 by gleki
- Gracias por la reunión, adiós.Thank you for the meeting, goodbye.
- Fue un placer conocerte, hasta luego.It was a pleasure to meet you, see you later.
- Espero verte nuevamente en el futuro, hasta pronto.I hope to see you again in the future, see you soon.
- Muchas gracias por tu tiempo, hasta la próxima.Thank you very much for your time, until the next time.
- ¡Nos vemos mañana! Chao.See you tomorrow! Bye.
- Fue genial salir contigo hoy. Nos vemos.It was great going out with you today. See you.
- Que descanses, nos vemos mañana. Hasta mañana.Rest well, see you tomorrow. See you tomorrow.
- Fue increíble pasar el tiempo juntos. ¡Cuídate!It was incredible spending time together. Take care!
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are leaving a coffee shop after meeting.
- LucíaFue un gusto verte, Daniel.It was nice seeing you, Daniel.
- DanielIgualmente, Lucía. ¡Adiós!Likewise, Lucía. Bye!
- Lucía¡Adiós! Que tengas un buen día.Bye! Have a good day.
- DanielGracias, tú también.Thanks, you too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries adiós, chau, chao, agur, abur, bay, 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.
