Inklingo
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chao

chow/ˈtʃao/

“chao” means “bye” in Spanish (informal goodbye).

bye

Also: see ya, ciao
InterjectionA1informal
Latin AmericaSpain
A person waving their hand as they walk away from a friend standing in a doorway.

📝 In Action

Bueno, me voy a casa. ¡Chao!

A1

Well, I'm going home. Bye!

Chao, nos vemos el lunes.

A1

Bye, see you on Monday.

Dile chao a tu abuela.

A2

Say goodbye to your grandmother.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • adiós (goodbye)
  • hasta luego (see you later)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • chao, chao – bye-bye (often used when hanging up the phone)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "chao" in Spanish:

bye→ciao→see ya→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: chao

Question 1 of 1

Which of these is the most appropriate situation to use 'chao'?

📚 More Resources

🎵 Rhymes▼
bacalaocolao
📚 Etymology▼

Borrowed from the Italian word 'ciao', which comes from a Venetian phrase meaning 'I am your slave'—used historically as a way to say 'at your service'.

First recorded: 20th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: ciaoPortuguese: tchauFrench: tchao

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'chao' spelled with an 'h' or an 'i'?

In Spanish, it is spelled 'chao'. While the original Italian word is 'ciao', Spanish adapted the spelling to match the 'ch' sound.

Can I use 'chao' to say 'hello' like they do in Italy?

No. In Spanish, 'chao' is exclusively used for saying goodbye. To say hello, always use 'hola'.