🤔 Goodbye, bye or see you soon? What does adiós really mean?
Good question! 😄 In English, goodbye can sound quite final — like you’re not going to see that person again soon. But in Spanish, adiós isn’t always so dramatic.
It depends on the tone and context: If you say ¡Adiós! cheerfully, it’s just Bye! If you say it with a serious face, it can mean goodbye forever 😢.
Compare these examples:
🗣️ Adiós, nos vemos pronto. → (Bye, see you soon.)
🗣️ Adiós, fue un placer conocerte. → (Goodbye, it was a pleasure to meet you.)
💡 Tip: If you want something softer than adiós, go for hasta luego or nos vemos.
💬 Does ciao really mean ‘bye’ in Spanish?
Yes… and no! Ciao (or spelled in Spanish chao) actually comes from Italian 🇮🇹, but Spanish speakers have totally adopted it. It’s informal, friendly, and sounds super natural in everyday conversations. 👉 Don’t use chao in very formal situations — it’s best with friends, family or coworkers you’re close to.
You’ll often hear:
🗣️ ¡Chao, guapo! (Bye, handsome!)
🗣️ ¡Chao, nos vemos! (Bye, see you!)
🫵🏻 4 fun ways to say goodbye in Spanish (and sound more natural!)
Let’s make it more interesting! Here are 5 fun and common ways to say goodbye that will make you sound like a true local 🇪🇸
Hasta mañana 🌞: Perfect for school, work, or anytime you’ll actually see the person the next day.
👩 Uf, qué día más largo. (Ugh, what a long day.)
🧑 Sí, ya toca descansar. ¡Hasta mañana! (Yes, time to rest. See you tomorrow!)
👩 ¡Hasta mañana! (See you tomorrow!)
Hasta pronto ⏳: Use it when you hope to see someone again soon, even if you’re not sure when.
🧑 Ha sido genial verte después de tanto tiempo.(It's been great seeing you after so long.)
👩 ¡Sí! A ver si quedamos pronto. (Yes! Let's meet up soon.)
🧑 ¡Claro! Hasta pronto. (Of course! See you soon.)
Cuídate ❤️: An affectionate way to say goodbye in Spanish. You use it when you want to wish someone well — like saying take care in English.
👩 Bueno, me voy ya. Tengo un viaje largo mañana. (Well, I’m off now. I’ve got a long trip tomorrow.)
🧑 Vale, cuídate, ¿eh? (Alright, take care, okay?)
👩 Sí, gracias. Tú también. (Yes, thanks. You too.)
👉 Tip: You can make it sound even warmer by adding mucho → ¡Cuídate mucho!
Que te vaya bien 🍀: Means 'hope everything goes well for you'. It’s a polite and kind way to say goodbye when you don’t know when you’ll see the person again.
👩 Bueno, me voy ya, que tengo entrevista de trabajo. (Well, I’m off, I’ve got a job interview.)
🧑 ¡Ah, qué bien! ¡Que te vaya bien! (Oh, that’s great! Hope it goes well!)
👩 ¡Gracias! (Thanks!)
Hasta luego, Mari Carmen! 🎬
If you want to say goodbye like a real Spaniard — with a bit of flair and attitude 💃 — you’ve got to learn ¡Hasta luego, Mari Carmen! 😎 This phrase became famous thanks to TV star Belén Esteban, who said it on Spanish television and accidentally turned it into a national catchphrase. Nowadays, it’s used in a playful, cheeky way to end a conversation — just like 'Bye, felicia!' in English.
🎥 Watch the video to see how and when to use it like a true Spaniard:
💡 Mix and match your goodbyes!
In real life, Spanish people love to mix their farewells — it sounds friendly, spontaneous and super natural 🇪🇸. You’ll often hear people using two expressions together to make the goodbye warmer or more expressive.
🗣️ ¡Hasta mañana, nos vemos! (See you tomorrow, see you!)
🗣️ ¡Adiós, hasta pronto! (Goodbye, see you soon!)
🗣️ ¡Nos vemos luego, cuídate! (See you later, take care!)
It’s a very typical Spanish thing — we can’t say goodbye just once! 😂
💡 Quick recap!
Spanish goodbyes are not just adiós! Depending on the situation, you can say:
Adiós 👋 (Goodbye)
Hasta luego 🕓 (See you later)
Nos vemos 👀 (See you)
Chao 😎 (Bye)
Cuídate ❤️ (Take care)
🗣️ Practice time! Choose the correct option:
💬 And you?
What’s your favourite way to say goodbye in Spanish?
Do you use chao, hasta luego, or maybe something else?
Tell us in the comments! 👇

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