German · People & Family
"Chef (cook)" in German: Koch / Köchin
der Koch / die Köchin
Chef (cook) in German is der Koch or die Köchin. Say Er ist Koch or Sie ist Köchin. Küchenchef is more specifically the head chef.
Job
Mein Onkel ist Koch in einem Hotel.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Koch / Köchin
Say it
kokh / KÖKH-in
/kɔx/ /ˈkœçɪn/
kokh / KÖKH-in. Soft ch. Feminine adds -in.
"Chef (cook)" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Koch | cook / chef (male) Masculine. | Masculine. |
| die Köchin | cook / chef (female) Feminine. | Feminine. |
| der Küchenchef | head chef Restaurant hierarchy. | Restaurant hierarchy. |
| Koch/Köchin sein | to be a cook Job talk. | Job talk. |
How to use Koch / Köchin in real life
- 1Job
Mein Onkel ist Koch in einem Hotel.
My uncle is a chef in a hotel.
Ist Koch.
- 2Praise
Die Köchin zaubert tolle Desserts.
The chef conjures up great desserts.
Die Köchin.
- 3Team
Zwei Köche teilen sich die Schicht.
Two cooks share the shift.
Köche = plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with Koch / Köchin
Incorrect: Er ist Chef. (for cook)
Correct: Er ist Koch. / Er ist Küchenchef.
Chef alone often means boss; use Koch or Küchenchef for cook.
Incorrect: die Koch
Correct: die Köchin
Feminine form is Köchin.
Good to know
In German, Chef usually means boss, not cook. In restaurants you still hear Küchenchef, but everyday job labels stick to Koch and Köchin.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Talking about a friend's new job
ChatPal
Arbeitet Jana jetzt als Köchin?
Does Jana work as a chef now?
You
Ja, sie ist Köchin in der Altstadt.
Yes, she's a chef in the old town.
ChatPal
Krass. Der Koch dort ist streng, oder?
Wild. The chef there is strict, right?
You
Streng, aber fair. Sie lernt viel.
Strict but fair. She's learning a lot.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Chef (cook)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Chef (cook)" in German
How do you say chef/cook?
Der Koch / die Köchin.
Head chef?
Der Küchenchef / die Küchenchefin.
Does Chef mean cook?
Usually boss; use Koch for cook.
Plural?
Die Köche / die Köchinnen.
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
