2 min read · Portuguese

How to say "goodbye" in Portuguese

Say "goodbye" in Portuguese: Adeus / Tchau. Pronunciation, when to use it, and the register that natives actually pick.

Short answer: "goodbye" in Portuguese is Adeus, or Tchau depending on the situation.

Adeus, the core translation

The default way to say "goodbye" in Portuguese is Adeus. Pronounced roughly ah-DEH-oosh.

When Portuguese speakers actually use it

"Tchau" is the daily-life word; "Adeus" sounds a bit final.

Alternative: Tchau

Tchau is the other option Portuguese speakers reach for in this situation. It's not a synonym so much as a register shift, use the one that matches who you're talking to.

Practice this in a real Portuguese conversation

Reading a phrase and saying it out loud are two different skills. Skala's AI conversations let you drop "Adeus" into a real Portuguese exchange in your first 3-minute lesson, so it sticks the first time.

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FAQ

What's the most polite way to say "goodbye" in Portuguese?

Both Adeus and Tchau are polite. Pick based on who you're talking to: register, not translation, is what natives are tuning into.

How do I pronounce Adeus?

Roughly ah-DEH-oosh. Recording yourself once and comparing to a native audio inside Skala closes the gap faster than reading pronunciation guides.

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