Szef

Szef is a Polish noun meaning a person who is in charge of an organization, department, or team. It denotes someone who exercises authority over others, such as a manager, director, owner, or chief executive. The term is widely used in everyday speech and in workplace contexts. In formal writing, more specific titles such as dyrektor (director) or kierownik (manager) may be used, but szef remains common in colloquial language. In culinary contexts, the phrase szef kuchni refers to the head chef, who leads the kitchen staff and makes menu and kitchen operation decisions.

Origins and related forms: The word szef is borrowed from German Chef, with similar forms in neighboring languages. It shares cognates with Czech šéf and Slovak šéf, all ultimately linked to a root meaning “boss” or “chief.” The usage in Polish has broadened beyond strictly culinary or executive roles to refer to many kinds of supervisors.

Gender and inflection: The masculine form is szef; the feminine form is szefowa. The plural nominative is szefowie. In gendered usage, phrases such as “szef firmy” (the boss of the company) or “szef kuchni” (head chef) are common, and feminine forms appear when referring to a female supervisor.

Usage notes: Szef carries a neutral to formal tone depending on context. It can be used descriptively about leadership within any organization, but in very formal documents or titles, more precise terms like dyrektor, kierownik, or właściciel may be preferred. In everyday speech, szef remains a frequent, widely understood choice.