principal
“principal” means “main” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
main, chief
Also: primary, essential
📝 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.
principal, director
Also: headmaster / headmistress
📝 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.
principal
Also: main point
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "principal" in Spanish:
chief→director→essential→main→main point→primary→principal→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: principal
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'principal' to refer to a person in charge?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *principalis*, meaning 'first, chief, original.' It entered Spanish early and kept its central meaning of being the most important or primary element.
First recorded: Medieval Latin period
Cognates (Related words)
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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.