Inklingo

How to Say "managers" in Spanish

English → Spanish

jefes

HEH-fehs/ˈxefes/

nounA1general
Use 'jefes' when referring to the people in charge of a department or team, especially in a more general or less formal context, or when you mean '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.

Examples

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.

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.

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).

directores

/dee-rek-toh-rehs//diɾekˈtoɾes/

nounA2formal
Use 'directores' for individuals who hold a senior management position, overseeing a significant department or the entire company, implying a higher level of authority.
A person sitting in a tall director's chair on a movie set, holding a megaphone and looking at a scene.

Examples

Los directores de la empresa se reúnen hoy.

The company directors are meeting today.

Varios directores de cine ganaron premios.

Several movie directors won awards.

Los directores de las escuelas locales hablaron con los padres.

The principals of the local schools spoke with the parents.

Making Words Plural

To make the singular 'director' plural, you add '-es' because it ends in a consonant. This is a standard rule for most Spanish nouns ending in 'r'.

The 'Mixed Group' Rule

Even if a group has both men and women, you use the masculine plural 'directores' to refer to everyone together.

False Friend: Principal

Mistake: “Using 'principales' for school heads.”

Correction: Use 'directores'. While 'principal' exists in Spanish, it usually means 'main' or 'primary,' not the person running a school.

Jefes vs. Directores

Learners often confuse 'jefes' and 'directores'. While 'jefes' can simply mean 'bosses' and is very common, 'directores' usually refers to a higher, more formal position like a director or top-level manager.

Related Translations

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