The cifal (meaning the biggest, most senior head, chief or director in Volapük; itself coming from English "chief") is the leader of the Volapük movement. The first cifal was Johann Martin Schleyer until 1889 when he dismissed the entire Academy of Volapük, and the Academy dismissed Schleyer as the cifal and the movement divided between the followers of the cifal and of the Academy. Schleyer, who also held the title of datuval (meaning "the great discoverer" in Volapük) lived until 1912 but before his death left the title to Albert Sleumer who, in 1934, codified the rights and obligations of the cifal. Typically, the cifal decides on matters of grammar and vocabulary.
Since the title of Cifal was created, there have been seven holders of the position:
| Johann Martin Schleyer | 1879–1912 | ||||
| Albert Sleumer | 1912–1948 | ||||
| 1948–1950 | |||||
| 1950–1977 | |||||
| 1977–1983 | |||||
| Brian Reynold Bishop | 1984–2014 | ||||
| 2014– |