Inklingo

How to Say "see ya" in Spanish

English → Spanish

chao

/chow//ˈtʃao/

interjectionA1casual
Use 'chao' for a general, casual goodbye when leaving a friend, family member, or acquaintance in an informal setting.
A person waving their hand as they walk away from a friend standing in a doorway.

Examples

Bueno, me voy a casa. ¡Chao!

Well, I'm going home. Bye!

Chao, nos vemos el lunes.

Bye, see you on Monday.

Dile chao a tu abuela.

Say goodbye to your grandmother.

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'!

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.

chau

/chow/ (rhymes with 'now')/ˈtʃau/

interjectionA1very casual
Use 'chau' for an even more informal and brief parting, often said quickly when you're in a hurry or with very close friends.
A friendly person waving goodbye with a smile.

Examples

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.

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.

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.

Chao vs. Chau

The main confusion is between 'chao' and 'chau'. While both mean 'bye', 'chao' is the more standard and widely understood spelling across most Spanish-speaking regions. 'Chau' is a variant, often used in certain countries or contexts for an extra-casual feel.

Related Translations

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