Chef
[ʃɛf]masculine
The German word for 'chief' is Chef. Wiktionary also lists Boss.
Meaning: head of an organization (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chef | [ʃɛf] (narrow) | masculine |
| Boss | /bɔs/ | masculine, slang |
Chef is a common way to translate 'chief' in business or professional settings to describe someone with authority or the head of an organization.
Which one should you use?
While Chef is the standard term for a superior or head of an organization, Boss is a more colloquial or slangy way to refer to a boss.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Boss is considered slang.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are referring to a female chief or boss, use the feminine form Chefin.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse Chef with the English meaning of a head cook. In German, a cook is a Koch, while Chef refers to a superior.
Did you know?
- In some traditional German workshops, the 'chief' is called a Meister, a title that proves a specific level of technical mastery rather than just a managerial position.
- The German word Chef is actually a direct borrowing from the French word for 'head' or 'boss', rather than being a Germanic word.
- Using the word Boss in a professional German setting can sound overly aggressive or like a caricature of American corporate culture.
Examples in context
- Tom ist der Chef.Tom is the chief.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as the chief.Tatoeba #5438382 by Zaghawa, translation #4495226 by CK
- Das Problem quälte den Chef.The problem tortured the chief.This sentence shows the chief being affected by a problem.Tatoeba #1530935 by samueldora, translation #43659 by rul
- Der Chef sagte, dass diese Gruppe nicht als zerschlagen betrachtet werden kann.The chief said that this faction cannot be considered dismantled.This sentence illustrates a chief making a statement about a group.Tatoeba #13088286 by Stuhr, translation #13088284 by Stuhr
- Ey, Boss, hast du mal 'nen Moment Zeit für mich?Hey, chief, do you have a moment for me?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are talking at the office.
- LauraWo ist unser Chef heute?Where is our boss today?
- FelixDer Chef ist in einem Meeting.The boss is in a meeting.
- LauraWann kommt er zurück?When is he coming back?
- FelixIch glaube, in einer Stunde.I think in an hour.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chief” translations and entries Chef, Boss, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Boss, Chef, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
