jefa
/ˈxefa/
The English phrase 'boss lady' is translated into Spanish as jefa.
jefa is used to describe a woman who is in charge of a business or organization. The term jefa can be used both in a professional sense to denote a superior and in a colloquial sense to refer to a woman in charge of a household or group.
Which one should you use?
Use the masculine form jefe when referring to a male boss. Directora is used to refer to a female boss in professional or corporate environments and Mandona is an informal way to say 'bossy' or 'domineering woman' in Spanish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term Chingona is a colloquial term used primarily in Mexico to describe a strong, assertive and powerful woman.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'the boss lady', use the feminine article la with jefa. The plural form of jefa is jefas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈxefa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a person might call their mother la jefa as a sign of respect or affection. It highlights the mother's role as the true authority in the family hierarchy.
- The word mandona is derived from the verb mandar, which means both 'to command' and 'to send'.
- In some Latin American countries, calling someone jefe or jefa is used as a respectful but informal way to address a stranger, similar to 'boss' or 'chief' in English.
Examples in context
- La jefa era muy ocupada.The boss lady was very busy.This sentence shows the use of jefa to describe a woman in charge.Tatoeba #8268353 by Dejo, translation #8268354 by Dejo
- ¡Lucía es una mujer chingona! Siempre está haciendo cosas increíblesLucía is a boss lady! She is always doing incredible things
- Ella es la jefa de la empresa.She is the boss of the company.
- Necesito hablar con la jefa.I need to speak with the boss.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are talking at the office.
- JavierHola, ¿sabes dónde está la jefa?Hi, do you know where the boss is?
- ElenaElla está en una reunión, Javier.She is in a meeting, Javier.
- JavierNecesito que mi jefa firme este papel.I need my boss to sign this paper.
- ElenaDéjalo en su escritorio, por favor.Leave it on her desk, please.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry jefa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
