//template call
<?php echo the_category_exclude(", ","featured,uncategorized,other,news,articles"); ?>

//functions file
function the_category_exclude($separator=', ',$exclude='') {
	$toexclude = explode(",", $exclude);
	$newlist = array();
	foreach((get_the_category()) as $category) {
		if(!in_array($category->category_nicename,$toexclude) && ($category->category_parent == 0)){
			//$newlist[] = $category->cat_name;
			$newlist[] = '<a href="' . get_category_link( $category->term_id ) . '" title="' . sprintf( __( "View all posts in %s" ), $category->name ) . '" ' . '>'  . $category->name.'</a>';
		}
	}
	return implode($separator,$newlist);
}

Exclude category slugs, only shows parent cats.

WordPress Exclude Category Slugs

wordpress

PHP