how to say goodbye spanish

How to Say Goodbye in Spanish with 28+ Farewell Words and Phrases

“Goodbye” is one of those basic phrases that you just have to know in any language you speak.

And there are many ways to bid farewell in Spanish.

Whether you want a formal “take care” or a more casual “see you later,” this list has got you covered.

So don’t say bye just yet!

Read on for 28 ways to say goodbye in Spanish and when to use each one.

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How to Say Goodbye in Spanish Using Hasta

You’ll notice a common theme among many ways to say goodbye in Spanish. That theme is hasta.

Hasta just means “until,” making it a versatile and easy-to-use closing, though it’s generally on the informal side.

Here are just a few of the ways it’s used to say goodbye.

Hasta luego (See you later)

Hasta luego is an informal phrase that literally means “until then.”

It’s used like “see you later” is used in English, but it isn’t literal. That is, you can use it even if you don’t plan to see the person in the near future.

This phrase is very common, so it’s one you’re likely to hear often.

It’s also a pretty good song—there’s just something appealing in singing about goodbyes!

Hasta mañana (See you tomorrow)

This is another informal phrase that literally means “until tomorrow.”

It’s used to mean “see you tomorrow,” and is something you’d say to a coworker or someone else you’ll probably see the next day.

Hasta pronto (See you soon)

Hasta pronto is an informal phrase that literally translates to “until soon.” It’s like saying “see you soon” in English.

Unlike hasta luego, though, it’s usually used when you’ll actually see someone soon.

Hasta la próxima (Until next time)

This informal phrase literally translates as “until the next one.”

Use it to mean “until next time,” like when you’re saying goodbye to your weekly trivia team, parting ways after your kid’s PTA meeting or in any other situation where you’d see the same people again in a similar setting.

Hasta la vista (Until we see each other again)

This informal closing literally means “until the view,” but it’s interpreted more as “until we see each other again.”

It’s hard to separate this one from its pop culture reputation, and we can’t deny that it’s tempting to say it with an Austrian accent, baby.

Hasta ahora (See you in a minute)

Hasta ahora is an informal phrase with a strong sense of immediacy. After all, it literally means “until now.”

However, figuratively, it means something like “see you in a minute,” such as when your friend calls you before a night out to let you know he’s waiting for you downstairs.

Hasta nunca (See you never)

Informal: Hasta nunqui

When said seriously, hasta nunca tells the other person that they’ve made you very upset.

So upset, in fact, that you never want to see them ever again. It’s literally “see you never.”

However, it can also be used informally with friends, as long as you say it in the proper joking tone. And the super informal version, hasta nunqui, really takes off the edge and tells your conversation partner that you’re only kidding.

Hasta… (Until…)

Yes, you can make your own informal Spanish closing! All you have to do is fill in the blank after hasta with the next time you plan to see someone.

For instance, at a regular weekend event, you might depart from your friends by saying, “hasta el próximo sábado” (until next Saturday).

Other Ways to Say Goodbye in Spanish

In spite of the popularity of hasta, there are still plenty of other goodbyes. Here are the most common, including both formal and informal ways to say bye.

Adiós (Goodbye)

Adiós should be your basic go-to word whenever you’re not sure how to appropriately say goodbye.

That’s because it’s incredibly common and can be used formally or informally.

It’s also the closing you’d use when an absence is long-term or permanent. It’s the Spanish word that most literally translates to “goodbye.”

Te veo (See you)

Te veo is an informal phrase that literally translates to “I see you.”

However, its actual meaning is decidedly less creepy: it comes across similarly to “see you” or “see ya.”

You can also pair it with when you’ll see the person next. For instance, you might say, “te veo mañana” (see you tomorrow).

Nos vemos (See you)

Nos vemos literally means “we see each other,” as in “we’ll see each other,” but it’s also used to mean “see ya.”

Keep in mind that it’s informal!

Nos vemos por ahí (See you around)

Use nos vemos por ahí if you don’t know exactly when you’ll see each other again.

And again, this way to say “see you around” is very informal!

Nos vemos allí (See you there)

The exact phrasing can vary. For instance, you might see this as allí nos vemos.

The literal meaning for both is more or less “we see each other there.”

It’s an informal phrase that’s used in the same way as “see you there” if you have a specific place in mind, or “see you around” if you don’t.

Espero volver a verte (I hope to see you again)

Not sure if you’ll meet again? If you’d like to, use this phrase to say “I hope to see you again.”

Espero verte pronto (I hope to see you soon)

And if you’re hoping to cross paths again in the near future, try saying goodbye with espero verte pronto to tell the other person “I hope to see you soon.”

Encantado/a (Pleased to meet you)

This one literally means “enchanted.”

It’s often said just after being introduced, but it can also be used again as you part ways with this new person to tell them “pleased to meet you!”

Cuídese (Take care)

Informal: Cuídate 

This means “take care” and has slightly different forms depending on the formality: Cuídese is formal, while cuídate is informal.

Disfruta (Have a good time)

Informal: Pásalo bien

The verb disfrutar means “to enjoy,” so you’re actually saying “enjoy!”

The more informal version is pásalo bien, which literally translates as “to pass (time) well,” where the word “time” is implied.

The figurative meaning of both of these phrases, however, is “have a good time!”

Diviértase (Have fun)

Informal: Diviértete 

Diviértase is in the affirmative imperative form, so you’re not just telling someone to “have fun!”—it’s a command!

Que tenga un buen día (Have a good day)

Informal: Que tengas un buen día

This simply means “have a good day.”

Like cuídese/cuídate, this phrase can be used formally or informally with minor modifications: que tenga un buen día is formal, while que tengas un buen día is informal.

Note the minor but crucial difference in conjugation!

Feliz día (Good day)

While this phrase literally means “happy day,” it’s really another way to tell someone to have a “good day.”

Feliz día is formal. You’d say it to elders, bosses and anyone you’d use usted with.

Feliz noche (Good night)

As the partner phrase of feliz día, this one literally means “happy night.”

It’s used as a formal way to wish someone a good night.”

Again, you’d use this with people to whom you say usted.

Que duermas bien (Sleep well, sleep tight)

If you’re parting ways at night and want to wish someone a good night’s sleep, use que duermas bien.

It means “sleep well” or, in more casual English, “sleep tight!”

Me voy (I’m going)

Me voy literally translates to “I’m going,” so it should come as no surprise that this is an informal way to say goodbye. I’m going… away!

Al rato (Later)

This one really means “shortly after” or “in a while.”

However, the figurative meaning is equivalent to the English goodbye word “later!”

Órale, pues (Alright, then)

Imagine someone walking away down the street, waving over their shoulder and saying “alright, then” as their goodbye.

That’s the kind of super casual situation you’d use this for.

Chau/Chao (Bye)

This is a very informal, colloquial way to say “bye.”

It’s likely derived from the Italian ciao, but unlike its Italian cousin, it’s usually only used between friends or in informal situations.

Bye

It may not be exotic. It may not be intriguing. It may not even really be Spanish.

But the fact of the matter is, bye is sometimes used as a colloquial, informal closing in Latin America.

So, there’s no need to have your hearing checked—that native Spanish speaker might actually have used this word as you parted ways!

Why Learn Different Ways to Say Goodbye in Spanish

There’s a wide variety of greetings and goodbyes for a reason. Here’s why you should have multiple Spanish goodbyes up your sleeve:

  • When it comes to vocabulary, variety is the spice of life. Switching up your options will keep things interesting.
  • Different situations call for different levels of formality. In English, you likely wouldn’t whip out a “laters” after a job interview. The same is true in Spanish. 
  • Choosing the right ending for a situation is a sign of fluency. It means you can read the room and respond properly.
  • Using the most situationally appropriate option helps prevent unnecessary (and completely avoidable) offense.
  • Knowing different ways to say goodbye will help you understand native speakers better. Spanish speakers won’t say adiós in every situation, and you’ll want to know this vocabulary to understand what they’re saying.

Misinterpreting a goodbye could cause some awkwardness, especially if you respond incorrectly. I mean, you probably don’t want to have a conversation like this, do you?

“Bye!”
“Yeah, you too! …Wait.”

So if you want to practice Spanish goodbyes, this SpanishPod101 podcast talks more about the various ways of saying farewell.

You can also watch how native speakers say goodbye with authentic Spanish videos on FluentU. Videos come with interactive captions, and you can create personalized flashcards to study as well.

You can also use apps like Lingvist or Anki to practice your vocabulary and review these Spanish goodbye words.

Now that you know 28 different ways to say goodbye in Spanish, it’s time for us to say goodbye, hasta la próxima, adiós, nos vemos

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