principali

Principali is an Italian adjective meaning main, principal, or chief. It is the plural form of principale and agrees with the noun in gender and number. The singular form is principale, used for both masculine and feminine nouns, while the plural form principali is used for both masculine and feminine nouns in the plural. Examples include i problemi principali (the main problems) and le strade principali (the main roads).

Etymology and usage notes: Principale comes from Latin principālis, reflecting its meaning of being first or foremost. In Italian, principi are often placed before the noun to emphasize importance, as in i principali problemi. It can also appear after the noun in a more neutral or descriptive sense, as in le strade principali.

Common contexts and collocations: It is used across domains to designate primary items within a set, such as principali fonti (main sources), principali obiettivi (main objectives), or principali cause (main causes). It can also contrast with secondary or minor items using equivalent phrases like fonti principali versus fonti secondarie.

Relation to other terms: Principale is closely related to synonyms such as fondamentale, principale, e primario, though each carries subtle nuance. It is not used to translate English princip als referring to school principals; in Italian, school principals are usually called preside or dirigente scolastico.

See also: Italian adjectives, grammar of agreement, usage of before-versus-after-noun placement. The term principali is a versatile descriptor in Italian, signaling prominence or priority within a group of items.