довиждане/чао
Saying Goodbye
Довиждане! is the polite goodbye you can say to anyone. Чао! is a casual "bye" for friends and family.
How It Works
Довиждане — the safe choice
Use Довиждане! with shop assistants, teachers, neighbours and anyone you call Вие. It is also fine with friends.
It is written as one word. The longer phrase До скоро виждане! ("Until we see each other soon!") is written as separate words.
Чао — only for leaving
Чао! is informal. Say it to friends, family and children, the people you call ти. Unlike Italian ciao, Bulgarian чао is not used to say hello; for that, use здравей or здрасти. People often double it: Чао-чао!
Common add-ons
- До утре! — See you tomorrow!
- До скоро! — See you soon!
- Всичко хубаво! — All the best!
- Приятен ден! — Have a nice day!
- Лека нощ! — Good night!
A shop visit often ends with Благодаря, довиждане! (Thank you, goodbye!).
Examples (5)
- Довиждане, до утре!
Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
Word by Word: Goodbye, until tomorrow!
- Чао, мамо!
Bye, Mom!
Word by Word: Bye, mom!
Чао is for people you are close to.
- Благодаря, довиждане!
Thank you, goodbye!
Word by Word: Thank-you, goodbye!
A typical way to leave a shop.
- Хайде, чао! До скоро!
OK, bye! See you soon!
Word by Word: Come-on, bye! Until soon!
- Довиждане, госпожо Петрова!
Goodbye, Mrs Petrova!
Word by Word: Goodbye, madam Petrova!
Довиждане is the polite goodbye to someone you address formally.
Common Mistakes
Writing довиждане as two words.
До виждане!Довиждане!The greeting is written as one word. Only the longer phrase До скоро виждане! is written separately.
Using чао as a greeting when you arrive (a meaning mismatch).
Чао! Как си? (said when meeting a friend)Здравей! Как си?In Bulgarian, чао means only "bye". To say hi, use здравей or здрасти.
Saying чао to someone you address politely (a register mismatch, not a grammar error).
Чао, господин Петров! (to a teacher or client)Довиждане, господин Петров!Чао sounds too casual with people you call Вие. Довиждане is always polite.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Saying goodbye follows saying hello.
Related Patterns
- добро утро/добър ден/добър вечерTime-of-Day Greetings
The polite greetings pair with довиждане when you leave.
Level 1 - доTo, Until and Next to with До
Goodbyes often add до: до утре, до скоро.
Level 1 - ти / ВиеFamiliar Ти and Polite Вие
Чао goes with people you call ти; довиждане also suits people you call Вие.
Level 1 - благодаря/мерсиSaying Thank You
Благодаря, довиждане! is a common way to end a visit to a shop.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice довиждане/чао in Bubblegum
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