Inklingo
← Dictionary
A person waving their hand as they walk away from a friend standing in a doorway.

chao

chow

interjectionA1
bye?informal goodbye
Also:see ya?casual farewell,ciao?borrowed from Italian

📝 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)

💡 Grammar Points

Always the same

This word doesn't change based on who you are talking to. Whether it's one person or a group, just say 'chao'!

❌ Common Pitfalls

Spelling confusion

Mistake: "ciao"

Correction: chao (in Spanish, we spell it phonetically with a 'ch')

Too formal?

Mistake: "Using 'chao' in a formal business meeting."

Correction: Use 'adiós' or 'que tenga un buen día' instead, as 'chao' is very casual.

⭐ Usage Tips

The phone habit

When finishing a phone call, Spanish speakers often say 'chao' several times quickly ('chao, chao, chao') before hanging up.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: chao

Question 1 of 1

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

📚 More Resources

Words that Rhyme with chao

bacalao
colao

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'.