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jefe

nounBeginnerHigh frequency

What does “jefe” mean in English?

  1. the boss

    the boss (masc)

Example sentences

  • Mi jefe es muy estricto.

    My boss is very strict.

  • La jefa toma las decisiones.

    The (female) boss makes the decisions.

  • Hablo con el jefe mañana.

    I'll talk with the boss tomorrow.

How to use it

Jefe means 'boss' / 'chief' (male). Masculine: el jefe. Feminine jefa. Plural jefes (mixed) / jefas (female).

Common mistake

Pronounce j as a hard /h/: 'HEH-feh', not 'JEH-feh'. Spanish j is always [x], like the English 'h' in 'hot'.

Topics

Related Beginner words

Reference

This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 1.