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 |
Spanish offers various ways to express a parting, ranging from the standard adiós to the more casual chao. While adiós is the most common way to say goodbye and is suitable for both formal and informal situations, it can sometimes sound more permanent or formal than the more casual chao. For more casual settings, you might use nos vemos (see you) or chao (bye). If you have specific plans to see someone again, you can use hasta luego (see you later), hasta pronto (see you soon) or hasta mañana (until tomorrow).
Which one should you use?
The form adiós is the standard translation for goodbye. In contrast, chao is a very common, informal way to say bye, similar to the English 'bye' or 'ciao'. The form chau is an alternative spelling of chao. The form agur and its alternative spelling abur are specific to certain contexts. The form bay is a phonetic spelling of the English word 'bye' used in certain settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Adiós is suitable for both formal and informal situations. For very polite interactions, you can say Que tenga un buen día (have a good day). In highly informal settings, such as Spanglish contexts, you may encounter the English-inspired phonetic spelling bay.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, people often use chau instead of adiós in both formal and informal contexts. The word bay is used in some Latin American contexts, often in highly informal or Spanglish settings. The word agur originates from the Basque language but is used for goodbye in Spanish-speaking regions near the Basque Country.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈdjos/
When do people say it?
To make a departure feel warmer and more friendly, you can add amigo or amiga to your farewell, as in adiós amigo/amiga.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Se fue sin decir adiós.He went off without saying good-bye.This sentence shows how to use adiós in a negative context.Tatoeba #2160479 by Shishir, translation #290039 by CM
- ¡Hola y chao! Soy Nonong.Hello and bye! I'm Nonong.This sentence demonstrates a friendly use of chao during an introduction.Tatoeba #1393557 by marcelostockle, translation #1502382 by gleki
- Ya me tengo que ir. ¡Chao!I have to go now. Bye!This sentence illustrates a common casual use of chao when leaving.Tatoeba #3182257 by marcelostockle, translation #2093311 by gleki
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are leaving a coffee shop.
- SofíaFue un gusto verte, Daniel.It was a pleasure seeing you, Daniel.
- DanielIgualmente, Sofía. ¡Adiós!Likewise, Sofía. Bye!
- Sofía¡Adiós! Nos vemos mañana.Bye! See you tomorrow.
- DanielHasta mañana.Until tomorrow.
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.
