jefes

/HEH-fehs/

bosses

An illustration showing two professional managers, a man and a woman, wearing business attire, standing at the head of a long conference table reviewing documents.

Managers or supervisors in a workplace are called jefes.

jefes(noun)

mA1

bosses

supervisors or managers in a workplace (used for all-male or mixed-gender groups)

Also:

superiors

people above you in rank

managers

those who administer a department

📝 In Action

Mis jefes me dieron un aumento de sueldo.

My bosses gave me a salary raise.

Los jefes están en una reunión importante todo el día.

The managers are in an important meeting all day.

Siempre hay que saludar a los jefes cuando llegas.

You always have to greet the bosses when you arrive.

Word Connections

Synonyms

supervisores (supervisors)
directivos (directors)

Antonyms

empleados (employees)
subordinados (subordinates)

Common Collocations

jefes de departamento – department heads
los altos jefes – the senior management

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Rule for Groups

Even if the group of bosses includes women (jefas) and men (jefes), Spanish defaults to the masculine plural form ('los jefes') to refer to the whole group.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Singular and Plural

Mistake: "Using 'jefe' when referring to multiple people."

Correction: Remember to add the '-s' for plural: 'Los jefes son estrictos' (The bosses are strict).

⭐ Usage Tips

Showing Respect

In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using 'jefe/jefa' is a direct and respectful way to address your immediate superior.

A storybook illustration showing three tribal leaders wearing simple, authoritative garments standing on a high point, pointing toward the horizon as they command their group.

Jefes can also refer to chiefs or commanders leading a group or tribe.

jefes(noun)

mB1

chiefs

leaders or commanders of a group, tribe, or organization

Also:

commanders

military or police leaders

heads

leaders of a political party or movement

📝 In Action

Los jefes tribales firmaron el acuerdo de paz.

The tribal chiefs signed the peace agreement.

Varios jefes militares asistieron a la ceremonia.

Several military commanders attended the ceremony.

Word Connections

Synonyms

líderes (leaders)
cabecillas (ringleaders (often negative context))

Common Collocations

jefes de estado – heads of state
jefes de la oposición – leaders of the opposition

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Context

When referring to high-ranking officials or historical figures, 'jefes' often translates to 'chiefs' or 'commanders,' carrying a more formal weight than 'bosses'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: jefes

Question 1 of 2

If you are talking about three female managers and two male managers, how do you correctly refer to the entire group?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

jefe(boss (male, singular)) - noun

jefa(boss (female, singular)) - noun

jefatura(management, leadership, or headquarters) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'jefes' considered formal or informal?

'Jefes' is generally neutral. It is perfectly acceptable in formal work environments, but it can also be used casually. It is much more common than using the more technical term 'superiores'.

What is the difference between 'jefes' and 'jefas'?

'Jefes' (masculine plural) is used for a group of men, or a mixed group of men and women. 'Jefas' (feminine plural) is used only when every single person in the group is female.