chef
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /ʃɛf/
KK: /ʧɛf/
noun
Definition
A skilled person who prepares and cooks food, often in a restaurant or hotel, and usually in charge of the kitchen staff.
Example
The chef prepared a delicious meal for the guests.
Conversation
Have you ever thought about becoming a chef?
Actually, I have! Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies.
That's cool! I think being a chef would be so rewarding.
Definitely! Plus, you get to create delicious meals for people.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
cook
culinarian
kitchen
Antonyms
amateur
novice
diner
verb
Definition
A person who cooks professionally, especially the chief cook in a restaurant or hotel.
Example
The chef prepared a delicious meal for the guests.
Tense Forms
Past: chefed
Past Participle: chefed
Conversation
I heard you want to chef at that new restaurant downtown.
Yeah, I've always dreamed of working in a professional kitchen.
That sounds exciting! What type of cuisine do you want to chef?
Root Explanation
Chef → The word 'chef' comes from the French 'chef' (meaning chief or head), which is derived from the Latin 'caput' (meaning head). In culinary terms, a chef is the head or leader of a kitchen.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'chief' or 'head' in charge of a kitchen — that's what a chef is.
Visually Confused Words
chief
che