How to Say "Chef" in Spanish - How To Say Guide

chef

/ˈt͡ʃef/masculine

The Spanish word for chef is chef.

chef is a masculine noun used 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 is used specifically for a professional head of a kitchen, the word cocinero is a more general term for a cook.

You can use the feminine article la with chef to refer to a female chef (la chef).

/ˈtʃef/

In a traditional Spanish kitchen hierarchy, the chef manages the brigada, a system of specialized roles based on military organization.
The Spanish word chef is a doublet of the word jefe, meaning 'boss'. Both words originate from the same Latin root for 'head'.
If you are looking for a more traditional or rustic term for someone who cooks, you might see the word fogonero used in certain regions. It refers to someone who works the 'fogón', or the hearth/stove.

Se quejó con el chef.
He complained to the chef.
This sentence shows how to express a complaint made to the chef.
Tatoeba #7975653 by helq, translation #2649922 by Hybrid
Tom es un chef famoso.
Tom is a famous chef.
This sentence is useful for describing someone as a famous chef.
Tatoeba #3523410 by marcelostockle, translation #3068211 by Hybrid
El chef se acercó a nuestra mesa.
The chef came over at our table.
This sentence illustrates the chef coming to a table.
Tatoeba #7315697 by Seael, translation #7306614 by Hybrid
9 more sentences on Tatoeba

Mateo and María are eating at a high-end restaurant.

Sources

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

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