English Reference

Word

bernard

Phoneticsbernard

/ˈbɝnɝd/

Definitions

01male name

A1

n. a common first name for a man.

n. a masculine given name derived from Germanic roots meaning 'brave as a bear'.

“My uncle Bernard has lived in the same house for forty years.”

“The biography details the life of Bernard Montgomery, focusing on his strategic leadership during the North African campaign.”

02dog breed

B2

n. a short name for a Saint Bernard, which is a very large and heavy dog.

n. a common clipping of Saint Bernard, referring to the large working dog breed originally bred for rescue.

“The family decided to adopt a Bernard because they had a large garden.”

“Although the Bernard is known for its gentle temperament, its sheer physical size requires a dedicated owner with significant living space.”

Informal

Synonyms

Saint Bernard

Etymology

From Middle English Bernard, from Old French Bernard, Bernart, from Medieval Latin Bernardus, probably from Frankish Bernhard (compare Old High German Bernhart, Old English Beornheard), from Proto-Germanic Bernuharduz, equivalent to bear + -ard. Popularized by medieval European saints.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

This entry

Level
A1 · Beginner
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference