How to Say Goodbye in Spanish (Beyond Just "Adiós")

You probably learned "adiós" in your first Spanish lesson. Maybe you've been using it ever since. And look, it works. Nobody's going to be confused if you say adiós.

But here's the thing: most native Spanish speakers don't actually say adiós that often. It's a bit like exclusively using "goodbye" in English when everyone around you is saying "see ya," "later," or "catch you tomorrow." It's not wrong. It just sounds... textbook.

If you want to sound more natural in Spanish conversations, you need a few more options. Let me walk you through the ones that actually matter.

The Deal with Adiós

Let's start with what you already know. Adiós literally means "to God" — it comes from the old phrase "a Dios vos acomiendo" (I commend you to God). Same origin as the French "adieu" or even the English "goodbye," which started as "God be with ye."

Pretty heavy stuff for leaving a coffee shop, right?

That's part of why adiós can feel a bit... final. It's perfectly fine to use, but it carries a certain weight. In some contexts, especially in Latin America, saying adiós when you're definitely going to see someone again soon can feel oddly formal or even a little dramatic.

That said, it's still common and versatile. Use it when:

Just don't lean on it exclusively.

Hasta: Your New Best Friend

The word "hasta" (meaning "until") is probably the most useful goodbye tool in Spanish. You can attach almost anything to it and create a natural-sounding farewell.

Hasta luego — "See you later"

This is the workhorse. Use it everywhere. In Madrid, people say hasta luego constantly, even to strangers they'll never see again — like a shopkeeper or taxi driver. It's implied that you'll see the person again, but nobody takes that literally.

Formality-wise, it sits right in the middle. Works with your boss. Works with your friends. Works with the guy at the corner store.

Hasta pronto — "See you soon"

Similar to hasta luego but with more intention. When you say hasta pronto, you're actually suggesting you'll see them soon. Use this with friends and family, especially on the phone.

Hasta mañana — "See you tomorrow"

Exactly what it sounds like. Great for coworkers, classmates, anyone you'll actually see tomorrow. Simple. Clean. Done.

Hasta la próxima — "Until next time"

Perfect when you know you'll meet again but don't know when. Use it after a good dinner party or when saying farewell to someone you've just met at an event.

You can also get creative: hasta el lunes (see you Monday), hasta la semana que viene (see you next week), hasta entonces (see you then). The formula is flexible.

Hasta la vista

Look, I have to mention this one because you're probably wondering. Thanks to a certain Austrian actor in a 1991 movie, this phrase became internationally famous. But here's the truth: almost nobody uses it in actual Spanish conversations. It's grammatically correct, but it sounds kind of cheesy now. If you use it, be prepared for some raised eyebrows or laughs.

The Casual Stuff

When you're hanging out with friends or in relaxed situations, Spanish gets way more casual than hasta luego.

Nos vemos — "See you"

This one literally means "we see each other" and it's everywhere. Super common across Latin America and Spain. It's casual, warm, and doesn't commit you to any specific time. You can add specifics if you want: nos vemos en la tarde (see you this afternoon), nos vemos el viernes (see you Friday).

Chao / Chau — "Bye"

Borrowed from the Italian "ciao," this little word spread across the Spanish-speaking world in the late 1800s through Italian immigrants. In Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, chau (spelled with a 'u') is probably the most common way to say goodbye. In Chile, chao (with an 'o') is standard. You'll hear it in Spain too, though less frequently.

Unlike Italian, where ciao means both hello and goodbye, Spanish speakers only use chao/chau for goodbyes.

Cuídate — "Take care"

Warm, friendly, and shows you actually care about the person. Use it with people you're close to. It comes from the verb cuidarse (to take care of oneself), and the "te" at the end tells you it's informal — you wouldn't use this with your boss's boss.

Bye

Yep. Just "bye." English has invaded Spanish just like it has everywhere else. Younger Spanish speakers across Latin America and Spain use "bye" all the time, especially in texts and casual speech. Don't be surprised to hear it.

When You Need to Be Formal

Job interviews, business meetings, addressing someone older or in authority — these situations call for something more polished than chao.

Que tenga un buen día — "Have a good day"

Polite, professional, and genuinely kind. Note the "tenga" — that's the formal usted form. If you're being casual with someone (using tú), you'd say que tengas un buen día instead.

Me despido — "I bid farewell"

Definitely on the formal end. You'd use this when ending a business presentation or wrapping up a formal meeting. Sounds stiff among friends, but hits the right tone in professional contexts.

Con permiso — "Excuse me" (as you're leaving)

This works when you need to duck out of a conversation politely. It signals "I need to go" without being abrupt. Great when you're at a networking event and need to move on.

Fue un placer conocerte — "It was a pleasure meeting you"

Perfect for when you're saying goodbye to someone you've just met for the first time. Mucho gusto works similarly as a parting phrase in these situations.

For emails and letters, you'd use closings like atentamente (sincerely) or saludos cordiales (kind regards) — but that's a whole different thing.

Regional Differences (Because Spanish Isn't One Thing)

Here's where it gets interesting. Spanish is spoken across like 20+ countries, and each one has its own flavor when it comes to saying goodbye.

Spain: Hasta luego dominates. You'll also hear venga (literally "come on," but used to wrap up conversations) tacked onto farewells: ¡Venga, hasta luego!

Argentina & Uruguay: Chau rules. You might also hear nos vemos, che — the "che" being a uniquely Argentine/Uruguayan term of endearment. Kind of like saying "see ya, mate."

Mexico: Nos vemos is huge. You'll also hear the very casual ahí te ves, which is hard to translate but roughly means "see ya around." It's very informal — save it for friends.

Chile: Chao is the standard casual goodbye. Very Italian influence here.

Colombia: Que estés bien ("hope you're well") is a warm way to part. Also nos pillamos ("catch you later" — pillar means "to catch").

If you're watching Spanish shows from different countries, you'll start noticing these patterns. A Mexican telenovela sounds different from an Argentine drama, and the goodbyes are part of that.

The Physical Part (Yes, There's Kissing)

Speaking of cultural differences — saying goodbye in Spanish-speaking countries often involves more than words.

In Spain, greeting and saying farewell typically includes two kisses (really more like touching cheeks), one on each side. This goes for meeting someone for the first time, seeing friends, and saying goodbye. It's normal between women, and between men and women. Men usually shake hands with each other unless they're very close.

In Latin America, one kiss is more common, usually on the right cheek. Argentina is interesting — men will often give each other a kiss on the cheek too, especially among friends and family.

In Mexico, cheek kissing is generally reserved for people you actually know. In more formal or business settings, a handshake is standard.

The point is: don't be surprised if someone leans in when saying goodbye. And don't be the person who leaves without properly saying farewell to everyone in the room — that's considered rude in most Spanish-speaking cultures.

Sending Regards (A Nice Touch)

One thing Spanish speakers do that English speakers often forget: sending greetings through someone else.

When you're saying goodbye, it's common to add saludos a tu familia (say hi to your family for me) or dale un beso a tu mamá de mi parte (give your mom a kiss from me). It shows you're thinking about the people in their life, and it's just... nice.

You can also receive these: if someone says dile adiós a María de mi parte, they're asking you to pass along their goodbye to María.

What You Actually Need to Remember

You don't need 47 ways to say goodbye. You need maybe 5 that cover most situations:

Master these, and you can handle pretty much any farewell situation. Add regional variations as you pick them up from actual Spanish content.

Actually Learning This Stuff

Here's the problem with reading a blog post about goodbyes: you read it, nod along, and then forget 80% of it by next week. That's not your fault — that's just how language learning works when it's disconnected from real usage.

The way you actually internalize these phrases is by hearing them over and over in context. When you watch a character in a Spanish show say "nos vemos" to their friend, or hear someone in a podcast wrap up with "hasta la próxima," those phrases start to stick because they're attached to real situations and real emotions.

That's the whole idea behind how we built Migaku. When you're watching a Spanish series or YouTube video through our browser extension, you can hover over any word or phrase to get instant definitions. See "nos vemos" in context five or six times, and suddenly it's just part of your vocabulary — you didn't have to memorize it from a list.

And if you want to actually retain what you learn, you can click any phrase and add it to your flashcard deck. Migaku's spaced repetition system handles the scheduling, so these Spanish greetings and goodbyes come back to you at just the right time. Way better than trying to drill vocabulary in isolation.

If you're serious about wanting to learn Spanish that sounds natural — not textbook-stiff — learning from real content is the way to go. The browser extension works with Netflix, YouTube, whatever you're watching. There's a mobile app for reviewing your cards on the go. And you can try it all free for 10 days to see if it clicks for you.

Anyway. However you decide to practice — hasta la próxima. 👋