English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

name Uncommon

Bern

burn

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Bern (name) means the capital city of Switzerland, located on the Aare River. Example: “The Swiss parliament meets in Bern.”

name

1

The capital city of Switzerland, located on the Aare River.

"The Swiss parliament meets in Bern."

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: Berns

Test yourself on “Bern” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The Swiss parliament meets in _____.

Etymology

From Alemannic German Bärn, of uncertain further origin. A popular folk etymology says it was named by its founder, Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen, after the first animal he saw in the area, a Bär(in) (“bear”) (compare Berlin, subject to a similar folk etymology). The name is now thought to be connected to a Celtic word, Proto-Celtic *berna (“cleft”) (from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH- (“to carve out, cut”)) and *branos (“raven”) (compare the name ΒΡΕΝΟΔΩΡ (BRENODŌR), on the Bern zinc tablet, which has also been connected with the Gaulish name Brennus). More at Bern.

Rhymes for Bern

ern kern fern CERN Vern stern

See all rhymes for Bern →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Bern” mean?

The word “Bern” means the capital city of Switzerland, located on the Aare River.

How do you pronounce “Bern”?

“Bern” is pronounced burn (/bɝn/ in IPA).

How do you use “Bern” in a sentence?

Here is “Bern” used in a sentence: “The Swiss parliament meets in Bern.”

What part of speech is “Bern”?

“Bern” is a name.

Is “Bern” a common word?

“Bern” is an uncommon word in modern English.

etymology from Wiktionary