chau

//chow/ (rhymes with 'now')/

bye

A friendly person waving goodbye with a smile.

A friendly wave to say 'chau' as someone leaves.

chau(interjection)

bye

informal parting

goodbye

casual way to end a conversation

Also:

see ya

very casual parting

📝 In Action

Bueno, me voy. ¡Chau!

Well, I'm leaving. Bye!

Chau, mamá, nos vemos más tarde.

Bye, mom, see you later.

Le dije chau y colgué el teléfono.

I said bye to him and hung up the phone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

adiós (goodbye)
hasta luego (see you later)

Antonyms

hola (hello)

Common Collocations

chau, chau – bye-bye (often used when in a hurry)
decir chau – to say goodbye

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Chau' as a Greeting

Unlike the Italian 'ciao,' which can mean both hello and goodbye, the Spanish 'chau' is ONLY used when leaving or saying goodbye.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Don't use it to say 'Hello'

Mistake: "Using 'chau' when you arrive at a party."

Correction: Use 'hola' for arriving and 'chau' for leaving.

⭐ Usage Tips

Phone etiquette

It's very common and natural to end almost every casual phone call with 'chau' or a double 'chau, chau'.

An empty plate with a few crumbs remaining.

When the food is all gone, you can say 'chau'.

chau(interjection)

gone

when something disappears or is finished

that's it

to indicate an end to a situation

Also:

game over

referring to a lost opportunity

📝 In Action

Si no llegamos a tiempo, chau vacaciones.

If we don't arrive on time, goodbye vacations (meaning the vacations are ruined/gone).

Se rompió el motor y chau auto.

The engine broke and that's it for the car.

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Goodbye

You can use this word to dramatically emphasize that something is finished, lost, or ruined.

⭐ Usage Tips

Emotional emphasis

Using 'chau' this way usually conveys a sense of finality or frustration.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: chau

Question 1 of 2

Can you use 'chau' to greet someone when you first see them?

📚 More Resources

Words that Rhyme with chau

bacalao

miau

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell it, 'chau' or 'chao'?

Both are correct! 'Chau' is the most common spelling in Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru, while 'chao' is more frequent in Spain, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.

Is 'chau' rude?

Not at all, but it is informal. Use it with friends, family, and coworkers. In a very formal setting (like an interview), 'adiós' or 'que tenga un buen día' might be safer.