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great st. bernard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

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UK/ˌɡreɪt ˌseɪnt ˈbɜːnəd/US/ˌɡreɪt ˌseɪnt bərˈnɑːrd/

Formal / Historical / Geographical

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Quick answer

What does “great st. bernard” mean?

A high mountain pass in the Alps between Switzerland and Italy.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A high mountain pass in the Alps between Switzerland and Italy.

The name also refers to the hospice, monastery, and dog breed (St. Bernard) historically associated with the pass, which was used as a pilgrimage and trade route.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in usage. Both refer to the same geographical feature.

Connotations

Connotations are identical: history, Alpine crossing, rescue dogs, and harsh conditions.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both dialects, appearing in historical, geographical, or travel contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “great st. bernard” in a Sentence

cross [the] Great St. Bernardtravel over [the] Great St. Bernardpass through [the] Great St. Bernard

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
the Great St. Bernard Passcross the Great St. Bernardthe Great St. Bernard hospicethe Great St. Bernard Tunnel
medium
over the Great St. Bernardroute via the Great St. Bernardthe summit of the Great St. Bernard
weak
famous Great St. Bernardhistoric Great St. Bernardsnowy Great St. Bernard

Examples

Examples of “great st. bernard” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The Great St. Bernard route is treacherous in winter.
  • We studied the Great St. Bernard history.

American English

  • The Great St. Bernard route is treacherous in winter.
  • We studied the Great St. Bernard history.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare, except in logistics or tourism planning discussing Alpine routes.

Academic

Used in historical, geographical, or religious studies texts concerning Alpine Europe.

Everyday

Very rare in casual conversation. Might appear in travel documentaries or history discussions.

Technical

Used in cartography, geology, and transport engineering when referring to specific mountain passes.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “great st. bernard”

Neutral

the passthe Alpine pass

Weak

the routethe crossing

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “great st. bernard”

valleylowland

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “great st. bernard”

  • Writing 'Saint' in full without the period (St.)
  • Omitting 'Great' and confusing it with other passes.
  • Using lowercase for 'saint' or 'bernard'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the St. Bernard dog is named after the Great St. Bernard Pass and hospice where they were bred for rescue work.

It is located in the Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy.

To distinguish it from the nearby Little St. Bernard Pass, which is on the France-Italy border.

Yes, but usually only in summer. A road tunnel runs underneath the pass for year-round travel.

A high mountain pass in the Alps between Switzerland and Italy.

Great st. bernard is usually formal / historical / geographical in register.

Great st. bernard: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˌseɪnt ˈbɜːnəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˌseɪnt bərˈnɑːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a GREAT SAINT (St.) and his big, shaggy BERNARD dog guarding a high mountain PASS.

Conceptual Metaphor

A BARRIER and a GATEWAY: simultaneously an obstacle to be overcome and a passage to a destination.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
In 1800, Napoleon led his army over the Pass to invade Italy.
Multiple Choice

What is the Great St. Bernard primarily known as?

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