Chef in Different Languages
Discover 'Chef' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Chef
Afrikaans hoofman | ||
Albanian shefi | ||
Amharic አለቃ | ||
Arabic رئيس | ||
Armenian գլխավոր | ||
Assamese চেফ | ||
Aymara chef ukax mä juk’a pachanakanwa | ||
Azerbaijani rəis | ||
Bambara chef (dumunikɛla). | ||
Basque nagusia | ||
Belarusian начальнік | ||
Bengali প্রধান | ||
Bhojpuri शेफ के ह | ||
Bosnian šefe | ||
Bulgarian главен | ||
Catalan cap | ||
Cebuano hepe | ||
Chinese (Simplified) 首席 | ||
Chinese (Traditional) 首席 | ||
Corsican capu | ||
Croatian glavni | ||
Czech hlavní | ||
Danish chef | ||
Dhivehi ޝެފް އެވެ | ||
Dogri शेफ ने दी | ||
Dutch chef | ||
English chef | ||
Esperanto estro | ||
Estonian pealik | ||
Ewe nuɖala | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) chef | ||
Finnish päällikkö | ||
French chef | ||
Frisian opperhaad | ||
Galician xefe | ||
Georgian მთავარი | ||
German chef | ||
Greek αρχηγός | ||
Guarani chef | ||
Gujarati મુખ્ય | ||
Haitian Creole chèf | ||
Hausa shugaba | ||
Hawaiian aliʻi | ||
Hebrew רֹאשׁ | ||
Hindi दार सर | ||
Hmong thawj | ||
Hungarian fő | ||
Icelandic höfðingi | ||
Igbo onyeisi | ||
Ilocano chef ti kusinero | ||
Indonesian kepala | ||
Irish príomhfheidhmeannach | ||
Italian capo | ||
Japanese チーフ | ||
Javanese pangarsa | ||
Kannada ಮುಖ್ಯ | ||
Kazakh бастық | ||
Khmer ប្រធាន | ||
Kinyarwanda chef | ||
Konkani शेफ हांणी केला | ||
Korean 주요한 | ||
Krio chɛf | ||
Kurdish serok | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) چێشتلێنەر | ||
Kyrgyz башкы | ||
Lao ຫົວຫນ້າ | ||
Latin summum | ||
Latvian priekšnieks | ||
Lingala chef | ||
Lithuanian vyriausiasis | ||
Luganda omufumbi w’emmere | ||
Luxembourgish chef | ||
Macedonian главен | ||
Maithili शेफ | ||
Malagasy lohan'ny | ||
Malay ketua | ||
Malayalam ചീഫ് | ||
Maltese kap | ||
Maori rangatira | ||
Marathi मुख्य | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) ꯆꯦꯐ | ||
Mizo chef a ni | ||
Mongolian дарга | ||
Myanmar (Burmese) အကြီးအကဲ | ||
Nepali प्रमुख | ||
Norwegian sjef | ||
Nyanja (Chichewa) mkulu | ||
Odia (Oriya) ରୋଷେୟା | ||
Oromo chef jedhamuun beekama | ||
Pashto مشر | ||
Persian رئیس | ||
Polish szef | ||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) chefe | ||
Punjabi ਮੁੱਖ | ||
Quechua yanukuq | ||
Romanian şef | ||
Russian начальник | ||
Samoan aliʻi | ||
Sanskrit पाकशास्त्रज्ञः | ||
Scots Gaelic ceann-cinnidh | ||
Sepedi moapei wa moapei | ||
Serbian шеф | ||
Sesotho hlooho | ||
Shona mukuru | ||
Sindhi چيف | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) ප්රධාන | ||
Slovak náčelník | ||
Slovenian šef | ||
Somali ugaas | ||
Spanish jefe | ||
Sundanese kapala | ||
Swahili mkuu | ||
Swedish chef | ||
Tagalog (Filipino) hepe | ||
Tajik саркор | ||
Tamil தலைமை | ||
Tatar пешекче | ||
Telugu చీఫ్ | ||
Thai หัวหน้า | ||
Tigrinya ሼፍ | ||
Tsonga mupheki wa swakudya | ||
Turkish şef | ||
Turkmen aşpez | ||
Twi (Akan) aduannoafo | ||
Ukrainian начальник | ||
Urdu چیف | ||
Uyghur ئاشپەز | ||
Uzbek boshliq | ||
Vietnamese trưởng phòng | ||
Welsh prif | ||
Xhosa inkosi | ||
Yiddish הויפּט | ||
Yoruba olori | ||
Zulu induna |
Etymology & Notes
| Language | Etymology / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | The term "hoofman" in Afrikaans evolved from the Dutch "hofman" (courtier) via Indonesian "hoofdmaan" (chief) |
| Albanian | The word "shefi" entered the Albanian language from Italian "sceffi", the meaning "boss, master, chief", itself of Arabic origin "sheif". |
| Amharic | The word አለቃ ("chef") in Amharic is derived from the verb "አለ" ("to exist, to be") and can also refer to a leader or head of a group. |
| Arabic | Its root, "ra'asa," also means "to preside over" and "to lead," hinting at the chef's role as the leader of the kitchen. |
| Armenian | The word "գլխավոր" has a range of meanings in Armenian, including "chief," "head," "leader," and "main." |
| Azerbaijani | The word |
| Basque | The word "nagusia" is derived from the Basque word "nagusi", meaning "master" or "lord". |
| Belarusian | In the historical past, it referred to leaders of military units, in comparison with its Modern Russian counterparts. |
| Bengali | The word "প্রধান" "pradhan" also means "lord", "master", "chief", "ruler", or "principal" in Bengali, depending on the context. |
| Bosnian | The word "šefe" can also be used as a term of endearment for a male friend or relative. |
| Bulgarian | The word "главен" in Bulgarian also means "main" or "chief" in the sense of a leader or head of a department, organization, or group. |
| Catalan | In Catalan "cap" also means "head" (in the part of the body sense), a fact that may be related to "cap" meaning "chef", since the chef is usually the one "in charge" or "heading" the kitchen team. |
| Cebuano | "Hepe" may also refer to a "head" or "leader", especially in the context of a family, community, or organization. |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 首席 can also mean "first" or "top-ranked" in Chinese. |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 首席 can also mean "first in rank" or "leader" in Chinese. |
| Corsican | "Capu" can also mean "head" or "leader" in Corsican. |
| Croatian | In Slovene, "glavni" also means "main", as in "glavni trg" (main square). |
| Czech | The word "hlavní" originally meant "head" and is related to the word "hlava" (head). |
| Danish | In Danish, "chef" refers exclusively to the head of a kitchen staff, while the position of a head waiter is known as "overtjener". |
| Dutch | In Dutch, "chef" is a general term for any superior or manager, not just a cook. |
| Esperanto | The word "estro" also means "manager" and is derived from the French word "maître" (master). |
| Estonian | Pealik is derived from Germanic languages, and has a cognate meaning of "head of a community" in several Germanic languages |
| Finnish | The word "päällikkö" comes from the verb "päällä", meaning "to be on top", suggesting a person's position of leadership or authority. |
| French | The word "chef" in French also has other meanings, such as "head" or "boss". |
| Frisian | 'Opperhaad' is literally translated to 'upper head', possibly implying the high status of a chef in society. |
| Galician | The Galician word "xefe" has the same origin as the word "chief", both coming from the Latin "caput" (head). |
| German | In German "Chef" can also mean manager, chief, owner or foreman |
| Greek | The Greek word "αρχηγ?ς" (archigos) literally means "first-leader" and can also refer to a captain, leader, or founder. |
| Gujarati | The Gujarati word "મુખ્ય" (mukhya) originates from the Sanskrit word "mukhya" meaning "chief, principal," or "foremost."} |
| Haitian Creole | The Haitian Creole word "chèf" originates from the French word "chef" and can also refer to a political or spiritual leader. |
| Hausa | The Hausa word 'shugaba' has cognates in various West African languages such as Kanuri, Teda, and Maba, suggesting a shared etymological origin. |
| Hawaiian | The Hawaiian word "Ali'i" originally meant 'chief' and later came to mean 'king'. |
| Hebrew | The word 'רֹאשׁ' (rosh) can also refer to a leader or head figure, as in 'רֹאשׁ מֶמְשָׁלָה' (rosh memshala), meaning 'prime minister'. |
| Hindi | The word 'दार सर' (chef) in Hindi is derived from the Persian word 'darbari', meaning 'one who works in a king's court'. |
| Hmong | The word "thawj" in Hmong can also refer to a teacher or a leader. |
| Hungarian | The word 'fő' in Hungarian also means 'head' and can refer to other figures of authority, such as the head of a household or the leader of a group. |
| Icelandic | "Höfðingi" can also refer to a chieftain, leader, or captain. |
| Igbo | The Igbo word "onyeisi," translated to "chef," derives from "onyii," or "head of the family," reflecting the familial origins of culinary roles. |
| Indonesian | The word 'kepala' originally meant 'head' in Old Javanese and later took on the meaning of 'leader' or 'chief'. |
| Italian | The Italian word "capo" originates from the Latin word "caput" meaning "head." |
| Japanese | The word "chief" comes from the French word "chef" meaning "head" or "leader". |
| Javanese | In Indonesian, "pangarsa" refers to a type of high-ranking military advisor or official. |
| Kannada | The meaning "chief" in the word "ಮುಖ್ಯ" is a cognate with "much" and is related to "first" or "principal". |
| Kazakh | The word may be derived from the Proto-Turkic verb *bastı, meaning "to press down," or from the Mongolian root "bas"} |
| Khmer | The Khmer word "ប្រធាន" can also refer to a leader, chairman, or president. |
| Korean | In Korean, the word "주요한" can also mean "key" or "necessary." |
| Kurdish | The word "serok" can also refer to a "table" or a "flat surface" in Kurdish. |
| Kyrgyz | The word "башкы" can also mean "leader" or "head". |
| Latin | The word “summum” can also mean "the highest point" and "the chief good". |
| Latvian | Priekšnieks is an Indo-European word meaning 'foreman', also related to the English word 'prince', denoting a 'first among peers'. |
| Lithuanian | "Vyriausiasis" is a Lithuanian translation for "chef", which also means "senior". |
| Luxembourgish | In Luxembourgish, "Chef" can also mean "head" or "leader" in a more general sense. |
| Macedonian | The word "главен" literally means "chief", implying the hierarchical structure of traditional restaurants. |
| Malagasy | The word 'lohan'ny' derives from the Malayo-Polynesian root '*ulu-*' ('head'). |
| Malay | "Ketua" is a Malay word deriving from Sanskrit that can also imply a leader. |
| Malayalam | The word 'ചീഫ്' in Malayalam has alternate meanings such as 'ruler' and 'head of a department'. |
| Maltese | The Maltese word "kap" (chef) likely originates from the Arabic "kabāb" (to grill), a technique commonly used by chefs. |
| Maori | In Maori, the word 'rangatira' can also refer to a chief or leader. |
| Marathi | "मुख्य" or "मुख्य" can also mean "principal" or "head" in Marathi. |
| Mongolian | The Mongolian word "дарга" (chef) originates from the Mongolian verb "дарх" (to prepare), suggesting the chef's role in preparing food. |
| Nepali | The word "प्रमुख" can also mean "chief" or "head" in Nepali. |
| Norwegian | The word "sjef" is derived from the French word "chef", which means "head". The word is also used in other Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish and Danish. |
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | In Nyanja, 'mkulu' can also refer to a clan elder, an ancestor, or a chief advisor. |
| Pashto | The word "مشر" also means "teacher" or "doctor" in Pashto |
| Persian | The word رئیس (rais) originally meant 'head' or 'leader' in Arabic and Persian, and is still used in that sense in some contexts. |
| Polish | In Polish, "szef" can also refer to a supervisor or manager, deriving from the German "Schaffner" meaning "conductor" or "foreman" |
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | The word chefe in Portuguese can also refer to a boss, supervisor or head of an organization. |
| Punjabi | The word "ਮੁੱਖ" can also mean head, main, principal, or chief. |
| Romanian | "Şef" also means "chief" or "head" in Romanian, deriving from the Turkish word "şef" with the same meaning. |
| Russian | In Russian, the word "начальник" not only means "chief," but can also refer to a supervisor, manager, or director. |
| Samoan | Originally it represented an upper or chiefly class to which belonged not only kings and high chiefs but also their extended families. |
| Scots Gaelic | "Ceann-cinnidh" literally means "head of the tribe" and is also the Gaelic word for "captain" |
| Serbian | The word "Шеф" ("chef") in Serbian can also refer to a manager or supervisor. |
| Sesotho | The word 'hlooho' can also refer to a 'clever' or 'skilled' person. |
| Shona | The word "mukuru" can also refer to a person who is wise or an elder in a community. |
| Sindhi | The word 'چيف' can also mean 'chief', derived from Persian 'sarčēšm' meaning 'head of a spring or fountain'. |
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | "ප්රධාන" is also used as a religious term to refer to a main god or a chief deity. |
| Slovak | The word "náčelník" is derived from the Slovak word "náčel" meaning "head" or "leader". |
| Slovenian | In Slovenian, "šef" can also mean "boss" or "manager". |
| Somali | Ugaas, meaning 'chief' in Somali, has its origins in the Cushitic word 'agas', denoting a clan leader with judicial and administrative authority, especially in the Horn of Africa. |
| Spanish | In Spanish, 'jefe' derives from Arabic 'šaykh' ('chief', 'elder'), which also gave rise to French 'chef' ('head', 'leader', 'cook'). |
| Sundanese | The word "kapala" can also refer to a wooden bowl or scoop used in traditional Sundanese cuisine. |
| Swahili | The word "mkuu" in Swahili can also mean "a head of a government department" or "a director of a company." |
| Swedish | In Swedish, the word "chef" can also refer to a boss or manager. |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | The Tagalog (Filipino) word "hepe" ultimately derives from the Spanish word "jefe," which means "boss" or "leader." |
| Tajik | The word "саркор" is derived from the Persian word "sarkār", meaning "chief, commander, governor". |
| Tamil | தலைமை (thalamai) literally refers to the head or leader, and in specific contexts it can refer to the head cook or chef in a kitchen. |
| Telugu | The word "చీఫ్" ("chief") in Telugu can also mean "head", "leader", or "boss". |
| Thai | หัวหน้า is also a slang word for a person who is in charge of something, such as a project or an organization. |
| Turkish | The Turkish word "şef" (chef) comes from the French word "chef" (chief) and can also refer to a leader or manager. |
| Ukrainian | The Ukrainian word "начальник" (chief) comes from the Proto-Slavic root "*na-čьlnьkъ", meaning "one who begins" or "one who leads". |
| Urdu | Urdu word "چیف" (chef) is derived from the French word "chef" and also means "chief" or "leader" in Urdu. |
| Uzbek | The Uzbek word "boshliq" also refers to the head or chief of an organization. |
| Vietnamese | In Vietnamese, "trưởng phòng" can also refer to the head of a government department or a section within a company. |
| Welsh | The word 'prif' derives from the verb 'prifio', meaning 'to prepare food'. It may also refer to the chief or head of a household. |
| Xhosa | The word "inkosi" in Xhosa is ultimately derived from the Zulu word "inkosikazi", meaning "queen". |
| Yiddish | The word “הויפּט” is derived from the German word “Haupt,” meaning “head.” |
| Yoruba | The word "olori" also means "head of the house" or "leader of a group" in Yoruba. |
| Zulu | The Zulu word 'induna' also means 'councilor' or 'headman' and is derived from the Nguni 'induna', meaning 'great one'. |
| English | The word "chef" originally meant "head" or "leader" in French, and was first used to refer to a kitchen supervisor in the 18th century. |