principal
/preen-see-PAHL/
main
Principal as an adjective means 'main' or 'most important'. The large red apple is the main focus.
principal(adjective)
main
?most important
,chief
?highest in rank or importance
primary
?first or leading
,essential
?necessary
📝 In Action
La calle principal siempre está llena de gente.
A1The main street is always full of people.
Mi objetivo principal es terminar mis estudios este año.
A2My primary goal is to finish my studies this year.
El problema principal con la economía es la falta de empleo.
B1The chief problem with the economy is the lack of jobs.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement (Gender)
Even though it describes both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'el edificio principal,' 'la calle principal'), the word 'principal' itself stays the same. It only changes when it becomes plural: 'principales'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Adjective and Noun
Mistake: "Usar 'el principal' para decir 'the main' (e.g., 'The main topic is...')."
Correction: Always use it with a noun when it's an adjective: 'El tema principal es...' (The main topic is...).
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
'Principal' almost always comes after the noun it describes in Spanish, like 'la casa principal' (the main house).
Principal as a noun refers to the head of a school or college.
principal(noun)
principal
?head of a school/college
,director
?head of an institution
headmaster / headmistress
?school leader (older term)
📝 In Action
El principal de la escuela nos dio un discurso de bienvenida.
B1The school principal gave us a welcoming speech.
La principal de la universidad aprobó el nuevo proyecto.
B2The university director approved the new project.
💡 Grammar Points
Identifying Gender
When 'principal' refers to a person, you use the article 'el' for a man and 'la' for a woman, even though the word 'principal' itself doesn't change: 'el principal' (male principal) / 'la principal' (female principal).
Principal can also mean the original sum of money invested or borrowed, like this foundational stack of coins.
principal(noun)
principal
?original sum of money invested or borrowed
main point
?the most important element of something
📝 In Action
La tasa de interés se aplica al principal del préstamo.
B2The interest rate is applied to the principal of the loan.
Al final del año, el inversor recuperó el principal de su inversión.
C1At the end of the year, the investor recovered the principal of his investment.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: principal
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'principal' to refer to a person in charge?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'principal' change its ending for masculine and feminine nouns?
No. As an adjective, 'principal' is 'invariable'—it stays the same whether the noun is masculine ('el tema principal') or feminine ('la calle principal'). You only add an '-es' for plural: 'principales'.
Is 'principal' always used after the noun?
In most cases, yes. It follows the noun ('el edificio principal'). If you put it before the noun, it often sounds very formal or literary, making the meaning feel heavier or more abstract, but this is uncommon.