Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| patron | /pa.tʁɔ̃/ | masculine |
| chef | /ʃɛf/ | masculine |
The term used for boss depends on the person's role. Use chef to refer to someone in a position of authority, such as a team leader or a person in charge of a specific task. For a person who holds the title of director or manager, you might also use directeur or directrice.
Which one should you use?
While English uses the word 'boss' for both an employer and a direct supervisor, French makes a distinction. Use patron when referring specifically to the employer or the owner of a business. Use chef when referring to a direct supervisor, a department head or a person providing leadership to a team.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, it is common to use the English loanword boss.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both terms have feminine forms. The feminine form of patron is patronne. The feminine form of chef can be cheffe, which is increasingly common in modern usage.
How do you pronounce it?
The word patron is pronounced /pa.tʁɔ̃/ and consists of two syllables.
Did you know?
- In French, the word chef is a doublet of the word cap, which refers to a headland or cape of land. Both words share the same ancient root meaning 'head'.
- The word patron is derived from pater, meaning 'father'. Historically, the term implied a protector or guardian rather than just a business owner.
- In a professional setting, calling someone mon chef can sometimes sound overly formal or even slightly ironic, depending on the tone.
Examples in context
- Je suis ton chef.I'm your boss.This sentence uses chef to show a direct relationship of authority.Tatoeba #4253337 by LaghmanC, translation #2248320 by CK
- Tu es mon patron.You're my boss.This sentence uses patron to identify the person as the employer.Tatoeba #5820607 by Aiji, translation #2218210 by CK
- Tom est mon chef.Tom is my boss.This sentence uses chef to identify the person as the boss.Tatoeba #6555868 by GB3, translation #2273292 by CK
- Tu devrais parler avec Monsieur Dupont, c'est le boss.You should talk to Mr. Dupont, he's the boss.
- Je vais demander l'autorisation au chef avant de prendre une décision.I will ask the boss for permission before making a decision.
- Fais attention, la directrice n'aime pas les retards.Be careful, the boss doesn't like delays.
- Tu devrais lui parler, notre patronne est vraiment sympathique.You should talk to her, our boss is really friendly.
- 333 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are talking about work during a coffee break.
- EmmaEst-ce que ton patron est sympa ?Is your boss nice?
- LucasOui, mon patron est très gentil.Yes, my boss is very kind.
- EmmaC'est important pour travailler sereinement.It is important to work peacefully.
- LucasTout à fait, je suis très heureux.Exactly, I am very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boss” translations and entries patron, chef, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chef, patron, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
