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How to Say “Goodbye” in Spanish for Every Occasion

Whenever we learn a new language, we start with some basic words and phrases. “Hello,” “Please,” and “Thank you” are definitely at the top of the list. But what about saying goodbye?

If you’ve made it to this article, we’re pretty confident you know how to start a conversation in Spanish. Now it’s time you learn how to end one gracefully.

Below, we’ll cover the different ways you can say “goodbye” in Spanish. We’ll start off simple and then move on to more specific phrases for other contexts. We’ll also give you some fancy options to show off to your friends and some info on how Spanish-speaking people say goodbye beyond words. Finally, we’ll bid you farewell with music suggestions to practice your vocabulary.

Are you ready for the beginning of the end?

I bid you farewell: how to say “goodbye” in Spanish

Before we get into goodbyes, you might want to review how to say “hello” in Spanish.

Now that’s out of the way; there are a few ways to say “goodbye” in Spanish. We’ll start with the two simplest ones: adiós and chau.

¡Adiós!

This is the standard way to say “goodbye” in Spanish. Easy enough, right?

It is also the most formal of the simple ways to say goodbye, so you can’t go wrong if you use it.

Adiós comes from the phrase A Dios (seas), meaning “I entrust you to God.”

¡Chau!/¡Chao!

These two words are derived from the Italian Ciao! You will hear them mainly in Latin America, in countries that had a large influx of Italian immigrants back in the day.

In some Latin countries, adiós is rarely used and even sounds antiquated. Chau or Chao have become the standard even though they are considered more informal.

Despedir(se): the verb for saying “goodbye” in Spanish

Fun fact! We care so much for goodbyes in Spanish that we even have a specific verb to describe it: despedir(se).

Let’s look at it in context:

  • Lo fui a despedir al aeropuerto. (I went to the airport to send him off.)
  • Nos despedimos ayer. (We said goodbye yesterday.)
  • ¿No vas a despedirte? (Aren’t you going to say goodbye?)

Until we meet again: how to say “see you later” in Spanish

Let us start this section by shattering your expectations. Despite what Arnold Schwarzenneger might have you believe, you will not likely hear a Spanish speaker say, “Hasta la vista.” Well, unless they are making a direct reference to the Terminator movies.

Now that we’ve overcome that hurdle, here are some ways to say “see you later” in Spanish.

¡Hasta luego!

This phrase is the most straightforward equivalent to “see you later.” It literally translates to “until later”.

¡Nos vemos!

This is a more informal version of ¡Hasta luego! which translates into “see you.” You will say these to your friends or family when saying goodbye.

¡Hasta mañana!

You will likely use this phrase with your coworkers as it means “See you tomorrow.”

¡Hasta la próxima!

For the people in your life that you see every now and then with no fixed schedule, you can use ¡Hasta la próxima! (Until next time!)

A good sendoff: other ways to say “goodbye” in Spanish

Just like in English, there are endless ways to bid someone farewell in Spanish. Here are three phrases you can use to send off someone with good wishes.

¡Buen fin de semana!

A classic Friday phrase when leaving the office, this phrase means, “Have a good weekend!”

¡Que te vaya bien!

If you just want to wish someone well, you can use this expression. In this case, the closest translation would be, “I hope things go well!”.

¡Que tenga/s un buen día!

This is another classic that Bon Jovi would endorse. In English, it is the equivalent of “Have a nice day!”

You can adapt it to formal or informal settings by just changing the conjugation of the verb tener (to have).

As you may know, there are three different ways to refer to the second-person singular in Spanish: , usted, and vos. is used in an informal context (to talk with family and friends), usted in a formal one (used when at work or talking to your elders, for example), and vos is another informal option, but it is used just in a handful of countries in Latin America, such as Uruguay.

We use tenga for the usted form (formal) and tengas for the and vos forms (informal).

How to say “goodbye” at nighttime in Spanish

We often say our goodbyes at the end of the day. So, we’re adding some nighttime options below.

¡Buenas noches!

This is just the classic “Good night!” that can work in both formal and informal contexts.

¡Que descanses!

You might say this to your family or friends when you know they’re going to bed. It means “rest well.”

¡Que duermas bien!

This spinoff of the previous expression translates into “Sleep well!”.

How to say “goodbye” in emails

We’ve covered a lot of different ways to say “goodbye” in Spanish. But most of these revolve around conversations. What about saying goodbye in written form? We’ll give you some options up next.

Saludos (cordiales)

This is the standard formal way to end an email or letter in Spanish. It means “(cordial) regards.” There is no exact equivalent in English, but you can use it whenever you would say something like “Best regards.”

Atentamente

If you want to go a step further with formality, this is the option for you. It’s the equivalent of “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”.

Cordialmente

Literally meaning “cordially,” this expression can also be used like “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely.”

Un (fuerte) abrazo

Now that we’ve covered the formal options, it’s time to loosen up. Un (fuerte) abrazo means “A (tight) hug,” and you would use it with close friends and family.

Un beso / Besos

Just like you use “xo” in English, we send kisses in Spanish at the end of a letter or email.

Con cariño

If you want to be slightly more old-fashioned, you can use this expression, which means “with love/affection.”

Goodbye in more than words

Saying “goodbye” in Spanish is not only about the words. There are other cultural habits that go with it. Let’s have a look at them.

Waving

Covid made wavers out of most of us, but this is not something you usually do to say “goodbye” in Spanish unless you’re waving at someone in a vehicle.

As you’ll see below, Spanish speakers tend to be more physical.

Handshake

Handshakes are quite formal in the Spanish-speaking world. So, they are better suited for job interviews or business meetings. However, in some countries, men tend to greet other men with a handshake rather than a kiss.

One or two kisses?

Kissing is the go-to way to greet people in Spanish-speaking countries. It sounds like a lot, but we actually just touch our cheek to the other person’s cheek. No lips involved!

Something to be aware of is how many kisses to give. In Spain, you give two: one on each cheek. In Latin America, it’s just one.

Another thing to note is that, in some countries, kissing is standard practice even among strangers. However, in others, you might only say goodbye with a kiss when it’s someone you know.

Hugging

Hugging is mainly done with close friends or family members. However, this doesn’t mean there is no kissing! One would usually go for both.

Bonus: songs about saying “goodbye” in Spanish

Goodbyes can be sweet. They can also be sour. Here are some songs that convey these feelings in Spanish.

“Me voy” by Julieta Venegas

Julieta Venegas is a famous Mexican-American songwriter. She focuses on indie pop and rock music.

Her song “Me voy” (I’m leaving) talks about saying goodbye to a partner that does not appreciate you.

“Te dejo Madrid” by Shakira

You are probably familiar with Shakira’s English hits, like Hips Don’t Lie and Can’t Remember to Forget You. But what about her Spanish ones?

“Te dejo, Madrid” (I’m leaving you, Madrid) is about Shakira’s decision to move away from that city.

“Un beso y una flor” by Nino Bravo

Nino Bravo was a Spanish pop and ballad singer. His classic hit “Un beso y una flor” (A kiss and a flower) talks about departing but promising to return.

“Adiós” by Gustavo Cerati

Gustavo Cerati was an Argentine rock star. His song “Adiós” (Goodbye) talks about breakups and how they can help us grow as human beings.

“Adiós muchachos” by Carlos Gardel

Carlos Gardel was the most prominent tango singer in history. “Adiós muchachos” (Goodbye, lads) was originally written by César Felipe Vedani and César Sanders. The song is written from the perspective of a dying man saying goodbye to his friends and reminiscing about his life.

How to say “goodbye” in Spanish – Final thoughts

What do you think? By now, you should be a pro at saying “goodbye” in Spanish!

We hope this article has given you options for any context you need—and some killer music suggestions to accompany them!

If you want some extra vocabulary, you can read our articles on how to say “thank you,” “you’re welcome, “ and “please” in Spanish.

¡Hasta la vista, baby!

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