Chao
/t͡ʃao/from spelling rules
The English phrase "bye informally" is translated into Spanish as Chao.
Chao is a popular informal way of saying "bye" and is especially popular in Latin American countries. It can also be spelled as chau.
Which one should you use?
While Adiós is the standard translation for "goodbye", Chao is much more common in casual, everyday social interactions. Other options include Nos vemos, which directly translates to "we'll see each other" and is a laid-back, informal way to say goodbye and Hasta luego, which translates to "see you later" and can be used both formally and informally.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, hasta luego is a more common farewell than adiós. Mexicans often use nos vemos and hasta luego interchangeably in informal conversations.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃao/
Did you know?
- The Spanish chao comes from the Italian ciao, which itself is a shortened version of a phrase meaning 'I am your slave'.
- Unlike the Italian ciao, which can mean both 'hello' and 'goodbye', the Spanish chao is almost exclusively used only for saying goodbye.
- In certain contexts, chao can be used to express disbelief or a 'goodbye' to a failed idea, similar to saying 'forget about it'.
Examples in context
- ¡Nos vemos más tarde! Hasta luego.See you later! Bye.
- Nos vemos en la fiesta de mañana. ¡Hasta entonces!See you at tomorrow's party. Until then!
- Gracias por la visita, nos vemos pronto.Thanks for the visit, see you soon.
- ¡Fue genial verte! ¡Hasta pronto!It was great seeing you! See you soon!
- Chao, nos vemos mañana.Bye, see you tomorrow.
- ¡Chao, que te vaya bien!Bye, hope it goes well for you!
- Chao, te escribo más tarde.Bye, I'll text you later.
Example conversation
Javier and María are leaving a coffee shop after meeting for lunch.
- JavierBueno, ya me tengo que ir. Chao, María.Well, I have to go now. Bye, María.
- MaríaEstá bien, Javier. ¡Chao!Alright, Javier. Bye!
- JavierNos vemos pronto.See you soon.
- MaríaSí, cuídate mucho.Yes, take care.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
