German · People & Family
"Boss" in German: Chef / Chefin
der Chef / die Chefin
Boss in German is der Chef for a man and die Chefin for a woman. Plural is often die Chefs. In emails people may write Vorgesetzte instead.
Office
Mein Chef ist heute im Homeoffice.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Chef / Chefin
Say it
sheff
/ʃɛf/
sheff / SHEFF-in. Soft ch like English sh.
"Boss" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Chef | boss (male) Everyday. | Everyday. |
| die Chefin | boss (female) Feminine. | Feminine. |
| die Chefs | bosses Plural. | Plural. |
| Vorgesetzte/r | superior More formal. | More formal. |
How to use Chef / Chefin in real life
- 1Office
Mein Chef ist heute im Homeoffice.
My boss is working from home today.
Mein Chef.
- 2Feedback
Die Chefin will die Zahlen bis Freitag.
The boss wants the numbers by Friday.
Die Chefin.
- 3Coffee chat
Sprich kurz mit dem Chef, bevor du buchst.
Talk briefly with the boss before you book.
Dem Chef (dative).
Mistakes English speakers make with Chef / Chefin
Incorrect: die Chef (male)
Correct: der Chef
Male boss is der Chef.
Incorrect: der Chefin
Correct: die Chefin
Female boss is die Chefin.
Good to know
Chef / Chefin is everyday and not rude. Some workplaces stay on Sie with the Chef for a long time; startups may switch to du fast.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking leave with management
ChatPal
Hast du den Urlaub geklärt?
Have you sorted the vacation?
You
Noch nicht. Ich frage den Chef morgen.
Not yet. I'll ask the boss tomorrow.
ChatPal
Oder schreib der Chefin eine kurze Mail.
Or write the boss a short email.
You
Gute Idee. Die Chefin antwortet schneller.
Good idea. The boss replies faster.
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 German
How do you say boss?
Der Chef / die Chefin.
Plural?
Often die Chefs.
More formal?
Vorgesetzte / Vorgesetzter.
Is Chef rude?
No — everyday workplace German.
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
