tchau
/ˈt͡ʃaw/
tchau is the Portuguese way to say goodbye.
tchau is a common way to say goodbye. In casual settings, you might also encounter the term Falou, which is an informal way to say catch you later or talk to you soon. Additionally, the word Valeu is an informal expression meaning thanks, but it is often used to say bye as well.
Which one should you use?
While tchau is used for casual departures, adeus is more formal and often implies a long-term or permanent separation. If you want to express the hope of meeting again in a formal conversation, you can use Até à próxima or use Até logo to mean see you later.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tchau is an informal way to say goodbye and is suitable for friends, family and casual acquaintances. For a more formal tone, you might use Até à próxima. In digital communication, the informal variation Xau is frequently used in text messages and social media.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazilian Portuguese, the word Tchauzinho is an affectionate variation of tchau.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtʃaw/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Tchau, até amanhã!Bye, see you tomorrow!
- Tchau, pessoal, bom final de semana.Bye, guys, have a good weekend.
- Eu já vou, tchau!I'm leaving now, bye!
Example conversation
Juliana and Felipe are leaving a coffee shop after meeting.
- JulianaFelipe, eu preciso ir agora. Tchau!Felipe, I need to go now. Bye!
- FelipeTchau, Juliana! Até a próxima.Bye, Juliana! See you next time.
- JulianaTchau, tchau!Bye, bye!
- FelipeSe cuida, tchau.Take care, bye.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tchau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tchau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
