adiós
/aˈdjos/
The Spanish phrase for goodbye formally is adiós.
adiós is a polite way to say farewell when leaving a person or a place. While it is the standard way to say goodbye, it can sometimes imply a long-term or permanent departure.
Which one should you use?
While adiós is the standard word for goodbye, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, it can sometimes imply a long-term or permanent departure, whereas hasta luego is more common for a casual 'see you later'.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈdjos/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish dialects, the word adiós can be used as a greeting when entering a room, though this is less common than using it for leaving. This can confuse those who only use it to depart.
- The phrase adiós actually translates literally to 'to God'. It shares the same structural logic as the French 'adieu' and the English 'adieu'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying adiós to a close friend or partner during a fight can signal a permanent breakup rather than a simple farewell.
Examples in context
- Adiós, señor. Fue un placer trabajar con usted.Goodbye, sir. It was a pleasure working with you.
- Hasta luego, señora García. Espero volver a verla pronto.See you later, Mrs. Garcia. I hope to see you again soon.
- Hasta la próxima reunión, estimados colegas.Until our next meeting, dear colleagues.
- Adiós, que tenga un buen día.Goodbye, have a good day.
- Muchas gracias por todo, adiós.Thank you very much for everything, goodbye.
Example conversation
Javier is leaving a professional meeting with Sofía.
- JavierMuchas gracias por su tiempo, Sofía.Thank you very much for your time, Sofía.
- SofíaDe nada, Javier. Adiós.You're welcome, Javier. Goodbye.
- JavierAdiós, nos vemos pronto.Goodbye, see you soon.
- SofíaHasta luego.See you later.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry adiós, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adiós, CC BY-SA 4.0.
