adjective
central, main
B1
zentral means central or main, describing something located at the center or of primary importance. Gradable: comparative zentraler, superlative am zentralsten. Antonym: dezentral. Used attributively or predicatively (ein zentraler Ort; die Lage ist zentral). Regular adjective; no special prepositions required. Often in geographic, organizational or strategic contexts.
Examples
Das Gebäude liegt zentral in der Stadt.
The building is centrally located in the city.
Die zentrale Frage betrifft die Finanzierung des Projekts.
The main question concerns the project's funding.
Das Museum lag zentral, sodass viele Touristen es besuchten, weil die U‑Bahnstation nur wenige Minuten entfernt war.
The museum was centrally located, so many tourists visited it because the subway station was only a few minutes away.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a central plaza with a big sign reading 'Zentral' in the middle.
Sounds like 'central' in English — nearly identical.
Notes
Zentral is gradable and commonly used both in concrete (location) and abstract (importance) senses.