These words sound similar, yet they are different.
First, “principal”. A principal can be a headmaster (director de una escuela) of a school or college. Principal (principal en español) also means main or primary. Two examples.
- Grapes are the principal – or main – crop (…el cultivo principal…) in La Matanza, Tenerife.
- The principal door (puerta principal) to La Moncloa is closed. Of course, one can write “the main door…”.
Now, principle. A principle (principio) can be a tenet, or a rule. It can also be a basic truth such as the principle of gravity. Contemplate these examples.
- The principle of low taxes is good, but at the moment the British government has high public debts.
- It is a principle of science (…un principio de ciencia…) that energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
- The principles of a democracy are…
So many mortals have principles, and some work as a principal too.
