how to pronounce principal

/pʁɛ̃.si.pal/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of principal is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

principal is pronounced in three syllables

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1.

ɛ̃

2.

3. example pitch curve for pronunciation of principal

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video examples of principal pronunciation

An example use of principal in a speech by a native speaker of standard french:

“… marine le pen son principal opposant a …”

meanings of principal

noun:

Principal (school administrator).
Principal (the money originally invested or loaned).
Someone or something which is important, key, paramount.

adjective:

Main, key, principal.

principal frequency in french - B1 level of CEFR

the word principal occurs in french on average 62.2 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for B1 level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.