French · People & Family
"Boss" in French: patron / patronne
le patron / la patronne
Boss in French is often le patron or la patronne. At work you may also hear mon chef. Say mon patron for my boss in everyday speech.
Office chat
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How to pronounce patron / patronne
Say it
pah-TROHN / pah-TRUN
/pa.tʁɔ̃/ /pa.tʁɔn/
pah-TROHN / pah-TRUN. Nasal on; feminine adds clear n.
"Boss" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le patron / la patronne | the boss Default gendered pair. | Default gendered pair. |
| mon patron | my boss Possessive. | Possessive. |
| le chef | the boss / manager Workplace alternative. | Workplace alternative. |
| chez le patron | at the boss's / owner's place Small business. | Small business. |
How to use patron / patronne in real life
- 1Office chat
Le patron veut le rapport avant midi.
The boss wants the report before noon.
Masculine.
- 2Shop ownership
La patronne ouvre tôt le samedi.
The boss (f.) opens early on Saturday.
Feminine.
- 3Asking permission
Je dois prévenir mon patron.
I have to tell my boss.
Mon patron.
Mistakes English speakers make with patron / patronne
Incorrect: Ma patron est sévère.
Correct: Mon patron est sévère. / Ma patronne est sévère.
Match gender: patron / patronne.
Incorrect: Mon boss arrive.
Correct: Mon patron arrive.
Prefer patron in French (boss is slangy loan).
Good to know
Patron can mean business owner as much as manager. In big companies people say mon N+1 or mon manager; in cafés and shops, patron/patronne is classic.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Leaving early for an appointment
ChatPal
Tu as parlé au patron ?
Did you talk to the boss?
You
Oui, le patron a dit ok pour 16 heures.
Yes, the boss said okay for 4 p.m.
ChatPal
Chanceux. Ma patronne est plus stricte.
Lucky. My boss is stricter.
You
Je lui envoie un message de rappel.
I'll send him a reminder.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Boss" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Boss" in French
How do you say boss?
Le patron / la patronne.
Is chef okay?
Yes—mon chef is common at work.
How do I say my boss?
Mon patron / ma patronne.
How do you pronounce patron?
pah-TROHN.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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