huvudsak

Huvudsak is a Swedish noun meaning the main part, the essence, or the principal matter of something. It is used to refer to the most important aspect in a discussion, document, or situation. In addition, the fixed expression i huvudsak functions as an adverbial phrase meaning mainly or essentially. The related adjective huvudsaklig means principal or main, and the definite noun form huvudsaken translates to “the main thing” or “the primary matter.”

Etymology and related forms: The word is formed from huvud, meaning “head,” and sak, meaning “matter” or “affair.” This carries the sense of the head or core part of something. Cognates appear in Norwegian as hovedsak and in Danish as hovedsag, reflecting a common Germanic heritage and similar meanings in the Nordic languages.

Usage notes: Huvudsak is common in formal and informal Swedish. It can refer to a portion of a text (the main part), to a central idea in a discussion, or to a central objective in planning. The adverbial phrase i huvudsak is widely used to mean “mainly” or “essentially.”

Examples:

- I huvudsak handlar boken om klimatförändringar. (Primarily, the book is about climate change.)

- Huvudsaken är att vi kommer i tid. (The main thing is that we arrive on time.)

- Arbetet består i huvudsak av dataanalys. (The work mainly consists of data analysis.)

See also: huvudpunkter and huvudaspekter can refer to central points or aspects; related terms include huvudfråga and huvudsyfte, which identify the main question or purpose.