The Spanish word for boss, jefe, comes from the French word chef with the same meaning, chef originally derives from the Latin caput which literally means head.
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
Being a common noun, jefe has both masculine and feminine forms nowadays depending on whether you are talking about a male or a female. Below are the definite and indefinite articles used:
Masculine
- el jefe = the boss
- los jefes = the bosses
- un jefe = a boss
- unos jefes = some bosses
Feminine
- la jefa= the boss
- las jefas = the bosses
- una jefa = a boss
- unas jefas = some bosses
Important: There are some Spanish language purists that insist the noun should not be feminised and that la jefe would be the correct feminine form in the same way as other nouns ending in e. In fact, both versions are correct these days because, as we know languages develop and change all the time!
As well as meaning the boss or the person in charge, the noun jefe can take on many other official meanings depending upon context:
- manager (of an area for example) – jefe de área
- head (of department for example) – jefa del departamento
- leader (of a team for example) – jefe del equipo
- chief of a tribe – jefe de la tribu
- chief of police – jefe de policía
- train guard or conductor – jefe de tren
Carolina es la nueva jefa del departamento de personal.
Carolina is the new head of the personnel department.
There are also many colloquial uses of jefe and its derivatives both in Spain and Latin America.
The masculine noun jefe can be used colloquially to mean the following in informal situations:
- sir (especially in Latin America)
- mate
- guv
- buddy
- dad (particularly in Mexico and Venezuela)
Jefe, ¿dónde puedo encontrar una librería?
Mate, where can I find a book shop?
The feminine noun jefa can be used colloquially to mean the following in informal situations:
- old lady
- missus
- mom / mum
¿Cómo está tu jefa? ¿Sigue enferma?
How is your old lady / missus? Is she still unwell?
The plural jefes can also be used colloquially for one’s parents or folks:
Cuando tenía 14 años, mis jefes no me dejaban salir de noche con mis amigos.
When I was 14, my folks wouldn’t let me go out with my friends at night.
Idiomatic expression featuring ‘jefe’
¡Vaya jefe!
English meaning: You can say this to someone when they have particularly excelled at something or their behaviour has impressed you
Literal translation: What a boss!
