What are the differences between "jefe", "patrón", "capo", when provided to mean "boss"? If I want to jokingly call my girl friend "The Boss" must I go through "La Jefa" ?

I"m interested greatly in Mexican and also invernessgangshow.net dialects, if that renders a difference, return I"m additionally interested to know more generally around geographical differences, e.g. In "Narcos" I notification that Escobar"s males refer come him together "Patrón" - is that greatly a Colombian intake ?


*

*

The deccionario de americanismos is a an excellent tool for these type of questions.

You are watching: How do you say boss in spanish

There you deserve to for example see:

patrón, -na I. 1. M. Y f. Ec. Señor, amo. II. 1. Adj. Ni. Referido a persona, de pies grandes. ● a. ǁ ~. Fórm. Mx, Ho, CR, Ve, Ch, Py; Ur, obsol. Se usa como tratamiento de respeto a alguien. □ a. ǁ ~ de fundo. Loc. Sust. Ch. Persona que ejerce un poder despótico y arbitrario. Popular music + cult → espon. B. ǁ ~ de prueba. Loc. Sust. Cu. Gráfico fijo con líneas y colores que permiten ajustar la imagen de un televisor. C. ǁ ~ grande. Loc. Sust. Ec. Latifundista o hacendado. Rur.

That is, a great set of definitions for patrón depending on the country. Basically (I don"t understand if you know invernessgangshow.net) an interpretation boss, but likewise other things.

From what I see in the definition, patrón does no have any type of special meaning in Colombia, so you have the right to go straight to the thesaurus of the RAE and also check the word:

patrón, na Del lat. Patrōnus; la forma f., del lat. Patrōna. 1. M. Y f. Defensor, protector. 2. M. Y f. Santo titular de una iglesia. 3. M. Y f. Santo elegido como protector de un pueblo o congregación religiosa, profesional o civil. 4. M. Y f. Dueño de la casa donde alguien se aloja u hospeda. 5. M. Y f. Señor (‖ persona a la que sirve un criado). 6. M. Y f. Patrono (‖ persona que emplea trabajadores).

All of lock can use here, because Pablo Escobar was seen as something in between a boss, a saint and a protector amongst his workers.

This being said,

jefe: this is, come me, the many straight-forward way to translate boss. In Spain is the one we usage all the time.

See more: Average Boob Size For A 13 Year Old With Big Boobs, Is 34B Bra Size Big For 13 Year Old

patrón: as indicated above, this word refers to a ceo in a work place. In Spain, ns hardly ever hear it in colloquial conversations, but (as noted by Nox in comments) the is supplied to cite the captain the a ship.

So if you want to jokingly call Boss to her girlfriend, I would certainly go because that Jefa. Unless you are in part smelly organization together and you desire to contact her capo :)

Bear in mind, though, what DGaleano comments below:

I recognize that Mexicans contact their mother "la jefa" or "la jefecita"... Therefore please inspect this out before you gain into trouble through your girlfriend. Below a link for the http://www.tubabel.com/definicion/1106 "La patrona" might work much better for Mexico