main goal
Loading your saved state.
main goal
The most important or primary goal that is to be achieved in a particular undertaking or project.
Das Hauptziel der Mission ist es, Wasserproben vom Mars zu sammeln.
The main goal of the mission is to collect water samples from Mars.
The word is made up of the prefix 'Haupt-' (main, principal) and 'das Ziel' (the goal). 'Haupt-' is used in many words to indicate the most important part, e.g., in 'Hauptstadt' (capital city) or 'Hauptgang' (main course).
Das Hauptziel für dieses Jahr ist die Expansion in neue Märkte.
The main goal for this year is expansion into new markets.
Common verbs used with 'Hauptziel' (main goal) are 'verfolgen' (to pursue), 'erreichen' (to achieve), 'definieren' (to define), and 'sich setzen' (to set for oneself).
Das Team hat sich für das Projekt ein klares Hauptziel gesetzt.
The team has set itself a clear main goal for the project.
'Hauptziel' (main goal) is very often used in sentences with the structure 'Das Hauptziel ist, ...' (The main goal is ...), followed by an infinitive clause with 'zu' or a subordinate clause with 'dass'.
Das Hauptziel der Regierung ist, die Arbeitslosigkeit zu senken.
The government's main goal is to reduce unemployment.
goal / destination / target
'das Ziel' and 'das Hauptziel' both refer to something you want to achieve. 'das Ziel' is neutral and can be any desired result. 'das Hauptziel' is the most important goal among several goals. It fits especially when a project, plan, or task has several points and one of them is the focus. The words can be confused because every main goal is also a goal. But if you want to emphasize that something is more important than the other goals, 'Hauptziel' is more precise.
Beim neuen Kurs ist das Hauptziel, sicherer Deutsch zu sprechen.
In the new course, the main goal is to speak German more confidently.
Unser Ziel ist es, bis Freitag alle Aufgaben zu erledigen.
Our goal is to finish all the tasks by Friday.