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"La chef" is a form of "chef", a noun which is often translated as "chef". "El" is a form of "el", a definite article which is often translated as "the". Learn more about the difference between "la chef" and "el" below.
el chef, la chef(
chehf
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
1. (culinary)
a. chef 
El chef del restaurante nuevo estudió en Le Cordon Bleu.The chef at the new restaurant studied at Le Cordon Bleu.
el(
ehl
)A definite article is a word that identifies a noun as specific or known to the speaker (e.g., the girl).