Definition
The senior waiter in a restaurant or dining establishment who supervises other servers and manages seating, reservations, and dining room service.
Etymology
Compound of 'head' (chief or principal) + 'waiter' (server). This occupational term emerged in the 18th-19th centuries as restaurants became more formal and hierarchical.
Kelly Says
The headwaiter—also called a maître d'—holds an almost diplomatic position in fancy restaurants, as they must manage difficult customers, balance the chef's kitchen demands, and somehow make everyone feel welcome simultaneously while moving tables with military precision.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
레스토ራን አባላት
re-sto-ran a-ba-la-at
ARالعربية
مدير المطعم
mudir al-mat'am
BNবাংলা
ভোজনের প্রধান
bo-jon-er pro-dhaan
CACatalà
capità de sala
ka-pi-ta de sa-la
CSČeština
vedoucí restaurace
ve-doo-u-she re-sta-u-ra-ce
DADansk
restaurantchef
res-to-rant-shef
DEDeutsch
Restaurantleiter
res-to-ran-t-ly-ter
ELΕλληνικά
διευθυντής εστιατορίου
di-ef-thyn-tis es-tee-a-to-ree-oh
FAفارسی
مدیر رستوران
moo-di-re res-to-ran
FISuomi
ravintoloitsija
ra-vi-no-lo-itsi-ja
FRFrançais
maître d'hôtel
may-tr duh-o-tel
GUGU
મેનુ મેનેજર
me-nu me-na-jer
HAHA
shugaban cibiyar
shu-ga-ban ci-bi-yar
HEעברית
מנהל מסעדה
me-na-al ma-sa-da
HIहिन्दी
हेड वेटर
hed ve-ter
HUMagyar
pincérkapitány
pin-cer-ka-pi-ta-ny
IDBahasa Indonesia
kepala pelayan
ke-pa-la pe-la-yan
IGIG
onye isi
oh-nye ee-see
KKKK
ресторан басшы
res-to-ran bas-shy
MRMR
रेस्टॉरंट व्यवस्थापक
res-to-rant be-ya-sta-pak
MSBahasa Melayu
pengurus restoran
pen-goor-us res-to-ran
NLNederlands
hoofd ober
hoyf o-ber
NONorsk
restaurantleder
res-to-rant-le-der
PAPA
ਰੈਸਟੋਰੈਂਟ ਮੇਨੇਜਰ
res-to-rant me-na-jer
PLPolski
kierownik sali
kee-roh-vnik sah-lee
PTPortuguês
maître
may-tr
RORomână
șeful restaurantului
she-ful res-to-ran-too-loo
RUРусский
официант-менеджер
oh-fish-yant men-e-djer
SVSvenska
restaurangchef
res-to-rang-shef
SWKiswahili
mkuu wa mgahawa
m-koo wa m-ga-ha-wa
TAதமிழ்
레스토ரன் மேலாளர்
res-to-ran me-la-a-lar
TEతెలుగు
రిస్టారెంట్ మేనేజర్
ris-ta-rant me-na-jer
THไทย
หัวหน้าพนักงาน
hua-na phan-ngan
TLTL
punong-guro ng kainan
poo-nung-guro ng kay-nan
TRTürkçe
restoran müdürü
res-to-ran moo-dhoo-roo
UKУкраїнська
голова ресторану
ho-lova re-s-to-ra-nu
URاردو
رستوران مینیجر
res-to-ran me-ne-jer
VITiếng Việt
người quản lý bàn
ngoo-ee quan-ly ban
ZUZU
umshayeli wezifazwe
oom-sha-ye-lee we-zi-fa-zwe
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Waiter/waitress distinction historically reserved serving roles by gender. 'Headwaiter' often assumed male leadership in service hierarchies.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'head server' or 'server lead' to avoid gender-coded service terminology.
Inclusive Alternatives
["head server","server lead","service captain"]