sous-chef

American  

[soo-shef, soo-shef] / ˈsuˌʃɛf, suˈʃɛf /

noun

plural

sous-chefs

1. the second in command in a kitchen; the person ranking next after the head chef.

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Etymology

Origin of sous-chef

< French, equivalent to sous under (< Latin subtus (adv.) underneath, below) + chef chef

Example Sentences

Now, “people are eating more chicken thighs—for protein, for flavor, and for economical reasons,” said Chef Eric Huang, Pecking House’s founder and a former Eleven Madison Park sous-chef.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Nestle and fluff the ingredients of this sous-chef salad with cooked and raw vegetables.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2022

The cram course in haute cuisine food prep enabled Edebiri to approximate the skill set of a gifted sous-chef.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2022

Plump, red-haired and sassy, she and I immediately hit it off and at her request, I became her sous-chef of sorts.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2022

Gogol is grateful for something to do, to be occupied and productive, even in the role of sous-chef to Donald.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri