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"Patrón" is a noun which is often translated as "boss", and "jefe" is a noun which is also often translated as "boss". Learn more about the difference between "patrón" and "jefe" below.
el patrón, la patrona(
pah
-
trohn
)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).
c. owner
Tendrás que consultarlo con el patrón. Yo soy solo un empleado.You will have to ask the owner about that. I'm just an employee.
a. master (masculine)
Los esclavos desobedecieron al patrón y fueron castigados.The slaves disobeyed the master and were punished.
b. mistress (feminine)
Las sirvientas están ayudando a la patrona a vestirse.The servants are helping the mistress to get dressed.
a. landlord (masculine)
El patrón dice que le debo dos meses de alquiler.The landlord claims I owe him two months' rent.
b. landlady (feminine)
Mike no paga el alquiler porque la patrona es su madre.Mike doesn't pay rent because the landlady is his mother.
4. (nautical)
a. skipper
El patrón y la tripulación están reparando la nave.The skipper and the crew are repairing the vessel.
5. (religious)
a. patron saint
San Francisco de Asís es el patrón de los animales.Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
6. (model)
a. pattern
El batería tocaba un patrón rítmico que se repetía.The drummer played a repetitive rhythmic pattern.
a. standard
Este es el patrón de medida que usamos en nuestras fábricas.This is the measurement standard that we have in our factories.
el jefe, la jefa(
heh
-
feh
)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).
a. boss
Creo que mi jefe intenta hacerme renunciar.I think my boss is trying to make me quit my job.
b. head
Alicia es la nueva jefa del departamento de portugués.Alicia is the new head of the Portuguese department.
f. commander (military)
El jefe dijo que todos los cadetes deben estar listos a las 0600 horas.The commander said that all cadets must be ready at 0600.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
2. (colloquial) (form of address)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. boss (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Qué onda, jefe? Dame dos cervezas y dos refrescos.What's up, boss? Give me two beers and two sodas.
b. buddy (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Jefe, relájese; es sólo un rasguño.Relax, buddy; it's just a scratch.
c. mate (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Cuánto le debo, jefe?How much is it, mate?
d. guv (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Disculpe, jefe. ¿Dónde está el baño de hombres?Pardon me, guv. Where's the gents?
la jefa
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
3. (colloquial) (wife)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. old lady (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Te gruñirá tu jefa si te vas al partido de futbol con tus cuates el domingo?Will your old lady give you grief if you go to the soccer game with your buddies on Sunday?
b. missis (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Cómo están la jefa y los chiquillos?How are the missis and the kids?
4. (colloquial) (mother) (Central America) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. old lady (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Cómo está tu jefa? ¿Sigue enferma?How's your old lady? Is she still ill?
b. mom (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Mi jefa no me deja ir a la fiesta.My mom won't let me go to the party.
c. mum (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Esos de la foto somos mi jefa y yo cuando yo era chavo.Those two in the picture are my mum and me when I was young.
los jefes, las jefas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
5. (colloquial) (parents)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. folks (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Cuando tenía 16 años, mis jefes no me dejaban salir de noche con mi novio.When I was 16, my folks wouldn't let me go out with my boyfriend at night.
