Portuguese Phrase
Até lá.
Meaning
‘Até lá’ literally translates to ‘until there’, but it is used idiomatically to mean ‘until then’ or ‘see you later’. It signals that the speaker expects to meet or hear from the listener at a later time.
When to use
Use this phrase when saying goodbye and you know you’ll see the person again at a specific future moment, or when you’re referring to a future event that has already been mentioned.
✦Grammar Breakdown
atélá
até (preposition)
‘até’ means ‘until’ or ‘up to’; it introduces a point in time or space that marks a limit.
lá (adverb)
‘lá’ means ‘there’; when combined with ‘até’, it points to a future moment or place previously mentioned.
🗨In Conversation
Até lá!
See you then!
Até mais!
See you later!
✕Common Mistakes
Até aqui, nos vemos amanhã.
‘até aqui’ means ‘up to here’ (spatial) and is not used for future meetings.
Vou chegar até lá agora.
‘até lá’ already implies a future point; adding ‘agora’ (now) creates a contradiction.
↔Alternatives
Até mais.
See you later.
Até breve.
See you soon.
Nos vemos depois.
We'll see each other later.
Até logo.
See you soon (informal).
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘até lá’ is informal and friendly. It’s often used when a specific time or place has already been set (e.g., a meeting at the café at 5 p.m.). Avoid using it in very formal written contexts; opt for ‘até então’ in formal writing.