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 |
The term adiós is the most common way to say goodbye in Spanish. Other variations include the casual chao and the phonetic English-inspired bay.
Which one should you use?
While adiós is the standard word for goodbye, it can sometimes sound more final or formal than the casual chao. Chau is an alternative spelling of chao. Similarly, abur is an alternative spelling of agur.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Adiós is suitable for both formal and informal situations. In contrast, chao is a common, informal way to say bye, similar to the English "bye".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Argentina or Uruguay, chau is the most commonly used casual way to say "bye." The form bay is a phonetic spelling of the English word "bye" used in some Latin American contexts, often in informal text or slang. The forms agur and abur are also present in the language.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈdjos/
When do people say it?
It is customary to say hasta mañana (see you tomorrow) at the end of a workday. In informal contexts, speakers may also use cuídate (take care) to express concern and encourage someone to look after themselves. While not a direct translation of "bye", hasta luego (see you later) is a common way to bid farewell, particularly in more formal settings.
Did you know?
- The word chao is a doublet of the Spanish word esclavo, meaning 'slave'.
- In certain regions, you might encounter the form agur. This is a specific variation often associated with the Basque influence in northern Spain.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying adiós can feel much more heavy or permanent than the English 'goodbye', sometimes implying you may not see the person again for a long time.
Examples in context
- Se fue sin decir adiós.He went off without saying good-bye.This sentence shows the use of adiós to describe someone leaving 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/farewell.Tatoeba #1393557 by marcelostockle, translation #1502382 by gleki
- Ya me tengo que ir. ¡Chao!I have to go now. Bye!This sentence demonstrates using 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.
- Espero verte pronto, adiós.Hope to see you soon, goodbye.
- Muchas gracias por su ayuda, hasta luego.Thank you very much for your help, see you later.
- Hasta luego, señor Rodríguez.See you later, Mr. Rodríguez.
- ¡Nos vemos mañana, chao!See you tomorrow, bye!
- Ciao, nos hablamos luego.Bye, we'll talk later.
- Hasta pronto, cuídate mucho.See you soon, take care.
- ¡Saludos a tu familia! Cuídate mucho.Greetings to your family! Take care.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are meeting after a long time in a cafe.
- Mateo¡Adiós, Lucía! Fue un gusto verte.Bye, Lucía! It was a pleasure to see you.
- LucíaIgualmente, Mateo. ¡Adiós!Likewise, Mateo. Bye!
- MateoNos vemos pronto.See you soon.
- LucíaSí, cuídate mucho.Yes, take care.
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.
