jefe

/HEH-feh/

boss

The primary meaning of **jefe** is 'boss' or 'chief' in a professional or organizational context.

jefe(Noun)

mA2

boss?at a job,chief?of a department or group

Also:leader?of a team or project,manager?person in charge

📝 In Action

Mi jefe es muy amable y comprensivo.

My boss is very kind and understanding.

Tengo una reunión con el jefe de departamento.

I have a meeting with the department head.

Ella es la jefa del equipo de marketing.

She is the head of the marketing team.

Word Connections

Synonyms

gerente (manager)
director (director)
líder (leader)

Antonyms

empleado (employee)
subordinado (subordinate)

Common Collocations

jefe de personal – head of personnel / HR manager
jefe de proyecto – project manager
ser el propio jefe – to be one's own boss

💡 Grammar Points

Male and Female Bosses: 'Jefe' vs. 'Jefa'

To talk about a female boss, you use 'la jefa'. The word changes its ending to match the person's gender: 'el jefe' for a man, 'la jefa' for a woman. The same goes for the plural: 'los jefes' and 'las jefas'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Jefe' with 'Patrón'

Mistake: "Using 'patrón' to mean 'boss' in every situation."

Correction: 'Jefe' is the standard, modern word for a boss or manager. 'Patrón' can also mean boss, but it often has an older feel, like 'master' or 'owner' of a small business or farm. Stick with 'jefe' for most office and work situations.

⭐ Usage Tips

How to Address Your Boss

While you might talk about your boss using 'mi jefe', you usually wouldn't call them 'Jefe' to their face in a formal setting. It's more common to use their name with 'usted' (e.g., 'Señor Pérez').

A warm, domestic scene showing a middle-aged man giving a young child a joyful piggyback ride in a sunny living room.

Informally, especially in parts of Latin America, **jefe** can be used affectionately to mean 'dad' or 'the old man'.

jefe(Noun)

mB2

dad?colloquial, like 'the old man',chief?as a friendly term of address to a man

Also:boss?friendly term for a man, e.g., a taxi driver or shopkeeper

📝 In Action

Voy a pedirle dinero a mi jefe para salir esta noche.

I'm going to ask my dad for money to go out tonight.

¡Gracias por la ayuda, jefe!

Thanks for the help, boss!

¿A dónde lo llevo, jefe?

Where can I take you, chief?

Word Connections

Synonyms

papá (dad)
viejo ('old man' (affectionate slang for father))

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it in Formal Situations

Mistake: "Calling a stranger 'jefe' in a formal business meeting."

Correction: This usage is strictly informal. Use it with friends when talking about your dad, or with service workers like taxi drivers or market vendors who are being friendly. Avoid it in professional or formal settings.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Everything

This meaning depends entirely on who is talking and where. If friends are talking about family, 'mi jefe' probably means 'my dad'. If a taxi driver says 'Gracias, jefe', he's just being polite and friendly.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: jefe

Question 1 of 2

A taxi driver in Mexico says to you, 'Listo, jefe. Son cincuenta pesos.' What does 'jefe' mean here?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

jefa(female boss) - noun

jefatura(headquarters, leadership) - noun

subjefe(deputy chief, second-in-command) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it respectful to call my actual boss 'jefe' to their face?

Generally, it's better not to. While it's not exactly disrespectful, it can sound a bit too informal or blunt in many workplaces. It's safer and more professional to use their name, usually with 'Señor'/'Señora' and the formal 'usted' form, unless they've told you otherwise.

I've heard people say 'jefecito' or 'jefecita'. What does that mean?

Adding '-ito' or '-ita' is a common way in Spanish to sound more affectionate or friendly. 'Jefecito' could be a fond way to talk about your dad ('my dear old dad') or a slightly more respectful, friendly way to address a man ('boss man'). 'Jefecita' is often used affectionately for one's mother.