principaal

Principiaal is a word used in Dutch and Afrikaans to denote the principal or chief person of an organization, most commonly the head of a school. As a noun it refers to the person in charge, while as an adjective it can mean main or principal, though this adjectival use is less frequent in everyday speech.

Originates from Latin principalis and is related to words meaning first or foremost. The form was adopted into Dutch and Afrikaans via historical contact with Romance languages, and shares cognates with the English "principal" and other Romance-derived terms.

Usage notes: In contemporary Dutch, the head of a school is usually called directeur or schoolleider, and principaal is more likely encountered in older texts or regional usage. In Afrikaans, principaal remains a common term for the school head. The term can also appear in formal titles or legal language to indicate principal or chief person within an organization.

See also: principal; headmaster; school principal; directeur; schoolleider.