Goodbye in Spanish is adiós (ah-DYOHS). Just as common in Spain is hasta luego (see you later), which people say even when they will not meet again that day. Hasta mañana means see you tomorrow, nos vemos is a relaxed see you, and friends often just say chao. Leaving a shop, gracias, adiós is perfect.
- Goodbye
- adiós
- See you later
- hasta luego
- See you tomorrow
- hasta mañana
- See you
- nos vemos
- Level
- A1
Which Spanish goodbye should you use?
Most of them are neutral, so the choice is about when you expect to see the person again. Hasta means until: hasta luego is literally "until later", but in Spain it has become an all-purpose bye that promises nothing.
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adiós | Goodbye | Everyday in Spain; also for longer partings |
| Hasta luego | See you later | The all-purpose bye in Spain |
| Hasta mañana | See you tomorrow | Colleagues, classmates, family at bedtime |
| Hasta pronto | See you soon | When you expect to meet again before long |
| Hasta la próxima | Until next time | Friendly, a little more final |
| Nos vemos | See you | Casual and very common |
| Chao | Bye | Informal; borrowed from Italian ciao |
| Venga, adiós | Right, bye | Spain, to wrap up a chat or phone call |
Decir adiós is "to say goodbye". Leaving without it hurts, as one A2 story makes clear about a lost love from the 1960s:
Se fue a Barcelona sin decir adiós.How do you say goodbye politely?
With someone you call usted, pair the goodbye with the time of day or a good wish. A shopkeeper in Spain will often send you off with adiós, buenas tardes or que tenga un buen día.
Gracias, adiós.
Thanks, bye.
Leaving a shop or a taxi.
Encantada de conocerle.
It was a pleasure to meet you.
Formal, said by a woman; a man says encantado.
Que tenga un buen día.
Have a good day.
Formal; que tengas with tú.
Un saludo.
Best wishes.
A common sign-off at the end of an email.
The verb for saying goodbye to each other is despedirse. Two commuters reach Madrid's Atocha station:
El tren llega a Atocha. Se despiden.How do people say goodbye in Latin America?
Adiós, hasta luego and nos vemos are understood everywhere, but everyday habits differ. In parts of Latin America adiós can sound more final than it does in Spain, and the casual word is the borrowed Italian one.
- Argentina and Uruguay: chau is the usual bye.
- Chile, Colombia, Peru and others: chao.
- Mexico: ahí nos vemos (see you around) is very common.
- Almost everywhere: cuídate (take care), or cuídese to someone you call usted.
What mistakes do learners make with Spanish goodbyes?
Forgetting the accent: adiós is stressed on the last syllable and carries a written accent. Another is treating hasta luego as a promise: a Spaniard leaving a lift says it to strangers they will never meet again. And hasta la vista exists, but most learners know it from films; in real conversation hasta luego or nos vemos sounds far more natural.
Read A2 Spanish stories where people meet, part and come back, and tap any word to see what it means.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between adiós and hasta luego?
Adiós is simply goodbye. Hasta luego literally means see you later, but in Spain it is used as a general bye, even with people you will not see again. Both are polite.
Is it chao or ciao in Spanish?
Spanish spells it chao, or chau in Argentina and Uruguay. Ciao is the Italian spelling it comes from.
How do you say see you tomorrow in Spanish?
Hasta mañana. For see you on Monday, say hasta el lunes; for see you next week, hasta la semana que viene.
How do you say goodbye in a Spanish email?
Un saludo or saludos are the usual neutral sign-offs. Un abrazo (a hug) is warm and for people you know. Atentamente is very formal.
What does me despido mean?
Me despido means "I'll say goodbye" and is a slightly formal way to close a conversation or letter. It comes from despedirse, to say goodbye.