How to Say "Chef" in Portuguese

chef

/ˈʃɛ.fi/feminine, masculine

The Portuguese word for chef is chef.

The English word 'Chef' is widely used and recognized in Portugal and Brazil to refer to the head cook of an establishment such as a restaurant.

Meaning: head cook of an establishment such as a restaurant (noun)

Which one should you use?

While chef refers specifically to a professional cook, the Portuguese word chefe is used for a general boss or supervisor in any field.

The pronunciation is /ˈʃɛ.fi/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.

In Brazil, you might hear people use the word chefe as a casual, slightly ironic way to address a stranger, like a taxi driver or a shopkeeper.
The root of chef traces back to the Latin word caput, which means 'head'. This explains why both a culinary chef and a general chefe are conceptually the 'head' of their respective domains.
Because chef is borrowed from French, it is often associated with high gastronomy and formal training, whereas the word cozinheiro is used for a general cook.

Tom é um chef famoso.
Tom is a famous chef.
This sentence shows how to describe someone as a famous chef.
Tatoeba #3219361 by gleydin, translation #3068211 by Hybrid
O chef usa um avental.
The chef wears an apron.
This sentence describes a chef wearing an apron.
Tatoeba #8855292 by carlosalberto, translation #8345973 by Cxom
Vou ligar para o chefe.
I'll call the chef.
This sentence demonstrates using the word chef in the context of calling them.
Tatoeba #1916034 by alexmarcelo, translation #1912010 by Spamster
O Chef preparou um delicioso prato para o jantar.
The chef prepared a delicious dish for dinner.
O cozinheiro é um verdadeiro artista na cozinha.
The chef is a true artist in the kitchen.
8 more sentences on Tatoeba

Beatriz and Rodrigo are talking about their new restaurant job.

Sources

Wiktionary, “chef” translations and entries chef, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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