Afrikaans	hoof
	"Hoof" in Afrikaans can also mean "head" or "chief".
Amharic	ዋና
	The Amharic word "ዋና" can also refer to the essence or core of something.
Hausa	babba
	In Hausa, "babba" derives from the word "baba", meaning "father" or "elder", emphasizing the role of leaders as patriarchal figures.
Igbo	isi
	The word 'isi' in Igbo can also mean 'head' or 'beginning'.
Malagasy	tena
	Possible origins of the word 'tena' in Malagasy include the Sanskrit word 'tana,' meaning 'land' or 'village,' and the Malay word 'tana,' meaning 'place' or 'country.'
Nyanja (Chichewa)	chachikulu
	This word is used for important things, events, or people (similar to the English word "main").
Shona	main
	"Mukuru" can also mean "backbone" or "spine" in Shona.
Somali	ugu weyn
	The term "ugu weyn" can also refer to the head of a household or a clan elder.
Sesotho	ka sehloohong
	"Ka sehloohong" can literally be translated as "through the middle", as it is composed of the locative prefix "ka" and the noun "sehloohong" (middle).
Swahili	kuu
	The word "kuu" also means "to live" or "to be alive" in Swahili, deriving from the Proto-Bantu word "*ku" with the same meaning.
Xhosa	ephambili
	"Ephamibili" derives from the Proto-Bantu verb "-pam-," meaning "to divide, split, separate."
Yoruba	akọkọ
	"Àkọ́kọ́" also means "the most important part of something" or "the very essence" in the Yoruba language.
Zulu	main
	The isiZulu word "phakathi" is a synonym for "main", in the sense of central or significant, and can also mean "in between" or "middle".
Bambara	kunbaba

Ewe	ŋutᴐ

Kinyarwanda	nyamukuru

Lingala	ya monene

Luganda	kikulu

Sepedi	kgolo

Twi (Akan)	anksa

Main in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabic	الأساسية
	The word "الأساسية" (main) in Arabic also refers to a type of Islamic tax that is paid annually by Muslims who are financially able to do so.
Hebrew	רָאשִׁי
	רָאשִׁי, meaning "main," is cognate with the Akkadian word "rēšu," meaning "head," and the Arabic word "raʾs," meaning "head."
Pashto	اصلي
	The Pashto word "اصلي" is an Arabic loanword that originally meant "original" (اصيل) or "genuine" (اصيل), and is sometimes used in this sense even today.
Arabic	الأساسية
	The word "الأساسية" (main) in Arabic also refers to a type of Islamic tax that is paid annually by Muslims who are financially able to do so.

Main in Western European Languages

Albanian	kryesore
	The term originates from the Latin "corypheus" which originally meant "leader of the chorus" in ancient Greek.
Basque	nagusia
	"Nagusia" may mean "foreman", "landowner", "master", "boss", "leader", or "lord" in Basque.
Catalan	principal
	The Catalan word "principal" is derived from the Latin "princeps", meaning "first" or "chief".
Croatian	glavni
	The word "glavni" also means "head" or "principal", reflecting its Latin origin "caput".
Danish	vigtigste
	In Danish, "vigtigste" is derived from the word "vigtig", meaning "important".
Dutch	hoofd
	"Hoofd" also means "head" in Dutch, derived from the Proto-Germanic word "haubud" meaning "head" or "leader."
English	main
	"Main" (noun) comes from Middle English "meygne" meaning strength or armed force, itself from Old French "maisnie", meaning a household, retinue or servants.
French	principale
	In Italian, "principale" derives from the Latin "princeps", meaning "first or chief" and also has the meaning of "director" or "head of a school".
Frisian	foarnaamste
	Foarnaamste also means 'capital' of a province in Frisian, or 'foremost' in a group.
Galician	principal
	In Galician "principio" also means beginning or start, as in "o principio do ano" (the beginning of the year).
German	main
	The word 'Main' comes from the Proto-Indo-European word 'm(e)i-', meaning 'flow'.
Icelandic	aðal
	The Old Norse word ‘aðal’ can also mean ‘noble’ or ‘chieftain’, possibly originating from the same root as ‘father’.
Irish	priomh
	In Irish, "priomh" originated from "príomh" (first or chief), and carries similar weight in contexts where "main" is used in English.
Italian	principale
	Principale shares a root with "prince" but, unlike in English, can refer to something "of prime importance" as well as a high-ranking leader.
Luxembourgish	haaptsäit
	The word "Haaptsäit" can also refer to the "main part" of something, or the "most important part".
Maltese	prinċipali
	The word "prinċipali" in Maltese derives from the Latin word "principal", meaning "chief" or "first in rank".
Norwegian	hoved-
	The word "hoved" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "hauhiþa", meaning "head".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)	a principal
	In Portuguese, "a Principal" can also refer to the head of a school or university.
Scots Gaelic	prìomh
	It comes from the Old Irish "prim", meaning "first", hence its "first" or "main" connotation.
Spanish	principal
	El término "principal" en español se deriva del latín "princeps", que originalmente significaba "primer ciudadano".
Swedish	huvud
	In Swedish, the word "huvud" not only means "head" but also "main" and "principal."
Welsh	prif
	"Prif" is derived from the Proto-Celtic word "primos," meaning "first" or "foremost."

Main in Eastern European Languages

Belarusian	асноўны
	"Асноўны" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "osŭnovъ", meaning "foundation" or "base".
Bosnian	glavni
	The word "glavni" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "glava", meaning "head". This reflects the concept of the head being the primary or most important part of the body.
Bulgarian	основен
	The word "основен" is related to the word "основа" (foundation) and can also mean "basic" or "fundamental".
Czech	hlavní
	Hlavní, the Czech word for 'main', derives from hlava, 'head', and thus also means 'capital' (of a state or district).
Estonian	peamine
	The word "peamine" is derived from the Proto-Uralic root *päjäm, meaning "chief" or "head". In addition to its literal meaning, it can also be used figuratively to mean "important" or "essential".
Finnish	tärkein
	The word "tärkein" is thought to derive from the Proto-Germanic word "þurknaz" ("giant" or "leader") or the Proto-Indo-European word "tar".
Hungarian	fő-
	The word "fő-" is cognate with the Finnish word "pää-" (head, end), which suggests that its original meaning may have been "end" or "edge".
Latvian	galvenais
	Latvian word galvenais originates from the Old Prussian word galwis, meaning “head”.
Lithuanian	pagrindinis
	The word "pagrindinis" in Lithuanian shares its root with "grand" in English, both originating from the Proto-Indo-European word "ghr̥ndh-", meaning "to grind" or "to crush".
Macedonian	главни
	The word "главни" also means "head" or "chief" in Macedonian.
Polish	główny
	The word "główny" can also mean "head" or "chief" in Polish, like in the titles "główny lekarz" (head doctor) or "główny księgowy" (chief accountant).
Romanian	principal
	Principiul (in Romanian), meaning “the main thing, principle, origin,” shares the same etymological root with “prince” and “primrose.”
Russian	основной
	"Основной" is a homonym meaning "main" and "basic". It originated in a different word, which, in turn, came from the Proto-Slavic "osnova", meaning "foundation".
Serbian	главни
	The Serbian word "главни" (main) can also refer to the head of a household, a primary or leading person, or a principal, among other meanings.
Slovak	hlavná
	The word "Hlavná" can also refer to the main street of a town or city in Slovak.
Slovenian	glavni
	The word 'glavni' in Slovenian can also mean 'chief', 'head', or 'principal'.
Ukrainian	основний
	The word "основний" also means "low" or "near the ground" in Ukrainian.

Main in South Asian Languages

Bengali	প্রধান
	In some areas the word প্রধান refers to the father of the bride or groom.
Gujarati	મુખ્ય
	The word 'મુખ્ય' comes from Sanskrit and also means 'face' or 'head'.
Hindi	मुख्य
	मुख्य" ("main") is derived from the Sanskrit word "mukhya", meaning "foremost" or "most important".}
Kannada	ಮುಖ್ಯ
	The word "ಮುಖ್ಯ" can also mean "eminent" or "distinguished" in Kannada.
Malayalam	പ്രധാനം
	The word "പ്രധാനം" also means "important" or "essential" in Malayalam.
Marathi	मुख्य
	The word मुख्य (mukhya) in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word 'mukha' meaning 'face' or 'mouth', implying something that is foremost or prominent.
Nepali	मुख्य
	The word "मुख्य" (main) also means "chief" or "major" in Nepali, originating from Sanskrit where it meant "most" or "first".
Punjabi	ਮੁੱਖ
	ਮੁੱਖ (main) comes from the Sanskrit word "mukha," which means "face" or "front," reflecting its primary meaning as the most important or prominent aspect.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)	ප්රධාන
	ප්රධාන is ultimately derived from Sanskrit 'pra-dhana', which literally means 'given first'.
Tamil	பிரதான
	The Tamil word 'பிரதான' ('prathan'), like its Sanskrit cognate 'प्रधान' ('pradhāna'), also signifies something 'first', 'important', or 'superior'.
Telugu	ప్రధాన
	The word "ప్రధాన" also means "chief" or "first" in Sanskrit and other Indo-Aryan languages.
Urdu	مرکزی
	مرکزی can also mean 'principal', 'central', or 'head', and is cognate with the English word 'central'.

Main in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)	主要
	The word "主要" also means "mainly" or "most important" when used as a verb.
Chinese (Traditional)	主要
	主要 (zhǔyào) can also refer to a leader or head of an organization.
Japanese	メイン
	メイン is borrowed from English, with the alternate meanings of "mains electricity" and "main course of a meal".
Korean	본관
	The term '본관' also refers to the main building or hall in a temple, palace, or residence.
Mongolian	гол
	The Mongolian word
Myanmar (Burmese)	အဓိက

Main in South East Asian Languages

Indonesian	utama
	The word "utama" also means "the main thing" or "the most important thing" in Indonesian.
Javanese	utama
	The word "utama" in Javanese can also mean "original" or "real".
Khmer	មេ
	The word "មេ" in the Khmer language can also mean "wife", "chief", or "leader" depending on the context in which the word is used.
Lao	ຕົ້ນຕໍ
	The Lao word “ຕົ້ນຕໍ” (main) is also used to refer to the base of trees and the root part of a plant that is below the ground.
Malay	utama
	The word "utama" derives from the Sanskrit word "uttama," which means "first" or "highest."
Thai	หลัก
	"หลัก" also means "pillar" and "principle" in Thai.
Vietnamese	chủ yếu
	"Chủ yếu" can also mean "mostly" or "predominantly".
Filipino (Tagalog)	pangunahing

Main in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijani	əsas
	"Əsas" in Azerbaijani can also mean "basis, foundation, principle, or element."
Kazakh	негізгі
	The word "негізгі" is also a derivative of the Proto-Turkic word "negiz", which means "base" or "foundation".
Kyrgyz	негизги
	The word "негизги" (main) in Kyrgyz originates from the Persian word "naqsh" (pattern) and can also mean "base" or "foundation".
Tajik	асосӣ
	The word "асосӣ" (main) is also used to refer to the foundation or basis of something.
Turkmen	esasy

Uzbek	asosiy
	The word "asosiy" is a loanword from Arabic which also means "principle", "basic", and "essential".
Uyghur	main

Main in Pacific Languages

Hawaiian	mea nui
	In Hawaiian, 'mea nui' can also be used colloquially to indicate something important or significant.
Maori	matua
	From Polynesian words for 'backbone' or 'foundation' and 'true'. Also used in some contexts to mean 'real' or 'genuine'.
Samoan	sili
	The word "sili" also means "foundation" or "root" in Samoan.
Tagalog (Filipino)	pangunahing
	The word "pangunahing" is derived from the Proto-Austronesian term "*pəŋunuŋ", meaning "head" or "chief".

Main in American Indigenous Languages

Aymara	wakiskiri

Guarani	tuichavéva

Main in International Languages

Esperanto	ĉefa
	"Ĉefa" is the Esperanto equivalent of the Latin word "caput" (head, top), and also related to the English word "chief".
Latin	pelagus
	"Pelagus" also means "open sea" and is related to the word "pelagic," meaning "of or relating to the open sea."

Main in Others Languages

Greek	κύριος
	The word "κύριος" has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European word "k̂er-yo-s" meaning "lord" or "ruler".
Hmong	lub ntsiab
	In Hmong, 'lub ntsiab' can also refer to the core or essence of something, emphasizing its fundamental nature or significance.
Kurdish	ser
	In Kurdish, the word "ser" also means "head" and can figuratively refer to a leader or chief.
Turkish	ana
	The word "ana" can also mean "mother" in Turkish, suggesting a connection between the primary and nurturing aspects of the concept of "main".
Xhosa	ephambili
	"Ephamibili" derives from the Proto-Bantu verb "-pam-," meaning "to divide, split, separate."
Yiddish	הויפּט
	In Yiddish, 'hoipt' can also mean 'capital' or 'principal' in finance and investments.
Zulu	main
	The isiZulu word "phakathi" is a synonym for "main", in the sense of central or significant, and can also mean "in between" or "middle".
Assamese	প্ৰধান

Aymara	wakiskiri

Bhojpuri	मेन

Dhivehi	މައިގަނޑު

Dogri	मुक्ख

Filipino (Tagalog)	pangunahing

Guarani	tuichavéva

Ilocano	kangrunaan

Krio	men

Kurdish (Sorani)	سەرەکی

Maithili	मुख्य

Meiteilon (Manipuri)	ꯃꯔꯨ ꯑꯣꯏꯕ

Mizo	puiber

Oromo	ijoo

Odia (Oriya)	ମୁଖ୍ୟ

Quechua	qullana

Sanskrit	मुख्यः

Tatar	төп

Tigrinya	ዋና

Tsonga	xikulu

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Main in Different Languages

Discover 'Main' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Main

Main in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Main in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Main in Western European Languages

Main in Eastern European Languages

Main in South Asian Languages

Main in East Asian Languages

Main in South East Asian Languages

Main in Central Asian Languages

Main in Pacific Languages

Main in American Indigenous Languages

Main in International Languages

Main in Others Languages

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Features overview

Instant translations with audio where available

Quick find with auto-complete

Translations in 104 Languages, no selection needed

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All free, All for you

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you provide translations and audio?

Can I download these translations?

What if I can't find my word?

Is there a fee to use your site?