Bern

American  

[burn, bern] / bɜrn, bɛrn /

Or Berne

noun

1. a city in and the capital of Switzerland, in the W part: capital of Bern canton.

2. a canton in W Switzerland. 2,658 sq. mi. (6,885 sq. km). Bern.

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Bern British  

/ bɜːn, bɛrn /

noun

1. the capital of Switzerland, in the W part, on the Aar River: entered the Swiss confederation in 1353 and became the capital in 1848. Pop: 122 700 (2002 est)

2. a canton of Switzerland, between the French frontier and the Bernese Alps. Capital: Bern. Pop: 950 200 (2002 est). Area: 6884 sq km (2658 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

The study, led by the University of Birmingham, Wageningen University, the University of Bern, and international partners, focused on a Swiss stream corridor with more than ten years of beaver activity.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

It was most recently inherited by the Northern California grandson of a Bern resident, Hélène Liliane de Mestral von Steiger.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

"Because Italian citizens were also affected by the fire disaster in Crans-Montana, the Italian judiciary is obliged to open criminal proceedings," the justice ministry in Bern told AFP.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Bern offered in the talks to "contribute to the de-escalation of the current situation", the ministry said, without providing further details.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

Bobby arrived in Bern at the end of October 2003, checked into an inexpensive hotel, and the next afternoon went to the U.S. embassy on Sulgeneckstrasse.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady