How to pronounce principal
American English pronunciation
PRIN-suh-pul
- IPA
- /ˈpɹɪnsəpəl/
- Syllables
- PRIN · suh · pul (3 syllables, stress on the 1st)
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What principal means
Most people know principal in its everyday sense. Here's its other meaning.
The first sum of money borrowed or invested
In a sentence: Each month, Dad paid back a little of the loan's principal, plus some interest.
Where it comes from: It comes through French from the Latin principalis, meaning first or chief. It is the same word as the principal of a school.
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