Going Beyond ¡Adiós! 11 Ways to Say Goodbye in Spanish 

There are many different ways to say goodbye in Spanish, but they don’t all mean the same. Switching between adiós and hasta luego can change the tone of your farewell and send a different message. If you’re wondering how this is possible, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll introduce you to 11 different words and phrases to say goodbye and explain how to choose which one you’ll need for every situation.

11 Ways to Say Goodbye in Spanish

Farewells can be quite emotional, especially when you don’t know when you’ll next see someone again. It’s very different from when you know you’ll see someone soon, like tomorrow or next week. To be clear, we use different Spanish words and expressions to convey if and when we’re expecting to see the other person again. 

They also help us end a conversation in a specific tone. Our goodbyes can sound expectant, definitive, formal, or informal. Below, you’ll find the 11 most common ways to say goodbye in Spanish.

1. Adiós

Adiós literally means, “Goodbye” in English and is how many beginners learn to bid farewell at the start of their Spanish lessons. But, there’s something about this way of saying goodbye that carries a definite tone, and Spanish speakers avoid using it unless they want to make clear that meeting someone again is unlikely. 

This is why sometimes you’ll hear Spanish-speaking characters say, “Adiós. Hasta nunca.” (Goodbye. Until never.) in movies.  While many Spanish native speakers will understand if you mistakenly use this word when parting, some others might feel startled, worried, or dejected. So, you should only use this phrase if you don’t think you’ll ever see a person ever again.

2. Chau/Chao

“Chau” and “Chao” come from the Italian word “Ciao.” But, unlike the Italian “Ciao” which means both hello and goodbye, these two words are only used when saying bye in Spanish. Both of these spellings are the equivalent to saying “Bye” in English and are mostly used in relaxed or informal scenarios. They can be used interchangeably since they have the same meaning and both spellings are considered correct in Spanish.

3. Nos vemos

In Spanish, “Nos vemos” is the equivalent of saying “See you later.” Spanish speakers use this phrase when they know that they’ll see someone again soon, but don’t know exactly when this will happen. This is a common way to bid farewell to people you already know and are used to seeing around you like classmates, coworkers, or neighbors.

4. Hasta luego

“Hasta luego” is similar to “Nos vemos.” The correct translation for this phrase is “Until later.” In Spanish, we say “Hasta luego” when we want the other person to know we’ll likely see them again, but don’t know when that will be. It might be soon or not, who knows! Either way, the meaning remains the same.

5. Hasta pronto

Unlike “Hasta luego,” with “Hasta pronto” you’re saying that you hope to meet someone again soon or that you know you’ll see them again soon. This phrase gives a hint of hope and warmth to our farewells, so it’s the perfect way to say bye to close friends, family, and other people you cherish. And, it can also be used to promise that you’ll do what’s possible to meet someone again soon without explicitly saying so.

6. Hasta… 

“Hasta” translates to “Until.” You can add “mañana” (tomorrow), “la próxima semana” (next week), “el próximo mes” (next month), or “el próximo año” (next year) after “hasta” to make clear when you expect to see someone again. But, it’s also possible to use other time expressions with “hasta.” 

For example, you can say, “Hasta el lunes” (Until Monday) or “Hasta marzo” (Until March). Or, if you know the exact occasion when you’ll see them, you can include the event, holiday, or exact date, like “Hasta Navidad” (Until Christmas) or “Hasta el 4 de febrero” (Until February 4th).

7. Me despido

“Me despido” literally translates to “I bid farewell.” This phrase is more formal than the other expressions in this list, and is used mostly when ending business meetings or presentations. Because this phrase is formal, it would be odd to use it when saying goodbye to friends or family, so make sure to use it in the right context.

8. Con permiso

“Con permiso” means, “Excuse me” in Spanish. You’ve probably seen this phrase used in other contexts, but in this scenario, we use it to tell others we are leaving. This phrase is formal and conveys you’re in a rush. For example, if you’re talking to a coworker but need to get to a meeting with your boss on time, you can use “Con permiso” to excuse yourself from the conversation.

9. Que tenga un buen día

The phrase, “Que tenga buen día” translates to “Have a good day.” It might not sound too much like a farewell, but it’s a friendly way to end conversations and wish someone a nice day. If you visit a Spanish-speaking country, you’ll notice that many store clerks, bank agents, and even phone operators use this phrase to end a conversation in a polite and friendly tone. 

But, if you run into an old friend or a neighbor at the market, you can also use the “tú” version of this phrase to say, “Qué tengas un buen día” to say “bye.”

10. Buen día/Buenas tardes/Buenas noches

These phrases are more commonly known as ways to say “hello” in Spanish, but they can also be used to say “bye.” In fact, they are quite common in formal farewells. Hearing “Espero haberlo ayudado. Buenas noches.” (I hope to have helped you. Good night) might be strange at first, but it’s just another way to say “goodbye” with a formal tone.

11. Bye

Believe it or not, the English word “Bye” is so popular that it’s also used in Spanish. “Bye” is very popular among young Spanish speakers, and is used in both spoken conversations and social media. It’s an informal way to say goodbye both Latin America and Spain. So don’t be surprised if you hear native speakers say “bye.”

Learn Spanish With Langoly!

I hope this article has helped you understand the many ways to say “goodbye” in the Spanish language. Now that you know the meaning behind these phrases, remember to practice using them with different Spanish resources. Apps can quickly increase your vocabulary, but you might want to also use books to tackle important grammar topics. If you want to listen to spoken Spanish, there are many YouTube videos created by Spanish speakers you can browse online. But, if you don’t have much free time, Spanish podcasts are an easy way to study on the go.

If you’re ready to jumpstart your Spanish studies, an online course is your best choice. We created the Siempre Spanish course to teach you Spanish the way it’s spoken in the real world. Study with native speakers and learn to use Spanish in different contexts. And, to learn more about saying “bye” in Spanish, listen to episode 2 of the Siempre Spanish podcast.