Hauptsache

German

Etymology

From Middle High German houbetsache, equivalent to haupt- +‎ Sache. Cognate with Middle Low German hȫvetsāke.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈhaʊ̯ptˌzaxə/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Haupt‧sa‧che

Noun

Hauptsache f (genitive Hauptsache, plural Hauptsachen)

  1. main thing, most important thing
    • 1931, Arthur Schnitzler, Flucht in die Finsternis, S. Fischer Verlag, page 141:
      „Vielleicht bin ich sogar verrückt. Ich will es nicht in Abrede stellen. Aber wenn ich es bin, so fühle ich mich sehr wohl dabei. Und das ist doch die Hauptsache, nicht?“
      „Maybe I am even crazy. I don't want to deny it. But if I am, I am feeling very good with it. And that is the most important thing, isn't it?“
  2. (law) main issue

Declension

Declension of Hauptsache [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Hauptsache die Hauptsachen
genitive einer der Hauptsache der Hauptsachen
dative einer der Hauptsache den Hauptsachen
accusative eine die Hauptsache die Hauptsachen

Antonyms

Derived terms

Conjunction

Hauptsache

  1. (slightly informal) as long as, expresses that the following is the most important goal, prioritised over anything else
    Er scherte sich nicht um die Folgen, Hauptsache, er bekam sein Geld ― He didn't care about the consequences, as long as he got his money
  2. (slightly informal) at least, most importantly, specifically, expresses gladness about a fact being true even if other things might not be ideal (i.e. Glück im Unglück)
    Hauptsache, es geht dir gut ― At least / most importantly, you are well / unharmed

Further reading

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