bera
/ˈbe.rɑ/masculine
The Old English word for 'bear' is bera.
The word bera refers to the large mammal of the family Ursidae.
Meaning: large mammal of family Ursidae (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The form bera is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈbe.rɑ/.
Did you know?
- In Old English, the name for this animal was often replaced by 'taboo' words or nicknames to avoid attracting the beast's attention.
- While bera refers to the animal, the word is not related to the English verb 'to bear' meaning 'to carry'. Those two words come from entirely different linguistic roots.
- If you were reading an Old English poem, a scribe might use a kenning, a metaphorical compound, to describe the bera instead of using its name directly.
Examples in context
- Se bera is strang.The bear is strong.
- Iċ ġesēo þone beran.I see the bear.
- Se bera slæpþ on þæm wuda.The bear sleeps in the wood.
Example conversation
Two siblings are discussing a sighting in the forest.
- ÆthelflædÆthelstan, hwǣr is se bera?Æthelstan, where is the bear?
- ÆthelstanSe bera is hēr.The bear is here.
- ÆthelflædIs se bera hungrig?Is the bear hungry?
- ÆthelstanIċ nāt.I do not know.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bear” translations and entries bera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
