main
The German word 'haupt' is used as an adjective to describe something that is primary or principal, often in the sense of being the most important or significant. For example, 'Hauptthema' means 'main theme', 'Hauptstadt' means 'capital city', and 'Hauptbahnhof' means 'main train station'. However, 'haupt' is not used as a noun on its own, but rather as a prefix or in compound words.
We sit in the main restaurant.
In this sentence, the term 'Hauptrestaurant' describes the restaurant as the primary or most significant one among a possible number of restaurants within a certain context, typically within a larger establishment such as a hotel.
He is the main culprit in this matter.
In this instance, 'Hauptschuldige' is used to identify that the person being referred to is the primary responsible or guilty party in the context of a particular situation or event.
She holds the master key.
The phrase 'Hauptschlüssel' in this context refers to a key that can open multiple locks, often used in large establishments like hotels or office buildings where a single person needs to access multiple rooms or areas.