jefe
masculine, everyday
Chief is jefe, or jefa for a woman. In Mexico jefe is also a friendly way to address a man you do not know, like "boss". It is also called cacique.
Meaning: a leader or boss (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| jefe | masculine, everyday |
| jefa | feminine |
| cacique | local boss |
At work mi jefe is your boss. In the street a vendor may say Pásele, jefe to a customer. A jefe de cocina is a head chef.
Which one should you use?
For the leader of a tribe, Spanish uses jefe or líder. In Mexico cacique means a powerful local boss and often has a negative tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine is jefa and the plural jefes. Use jefa for a woman in charge.
Did you know?
- Jefe comes from French chef, which also gave English the word "chief".
Examples in context
- Mi jefe llega a las nueve.My boss arrives at nine.
- Pásele, jefe, hay descuento.Come in, boss, there is a discount.
- Ella es la jefa de ventas.She is the head of sales.
Example conversation
Karla asks her coworker Pepe about their manager.
- Karla¿Ya llegó el jefe?Has the boss arrived yet?
- PepeSí, está en su oficina.Yes, he is in his office.
- KarlaGracias, voy a hablar con él.Thanks, I am going to talk to him.
