This article is about the phonology of Bernese German. It deals with current phonology and phonetics, including geographical variants. Like other High Alemannic varieties, it has a two-way contrast in plosives and fricatives that is not based on voicing, but on length. The absence of voice in plosives and fricatives is typical for all High German varieties, but many of them have no two-way contrast due to general lenition. Vowels Monophthongs are true-mid [, , ]. occurs only in weak unstressed syllables. In northern Bernese German, is rounded to or even merges with to . Vowel length There is a distinctive length opposition in all vowels except . Unlike in standard German, there is no interdependence of vowel length and vowel quality. Diphthongs Bernese German has seven diphthong phonemes: Three closing diphthongs: Three opening diphthongs: One long diphthong: The number of phonetic diphthongs and triphthongs is significantly higher, since all monophthongs (except for short , , , ) and all opening diphthongs may be followed by a (from vocalized ), for instance → ('stable'), → ('steel'), → ('feeling'). Additionally, there are certain combinations with , for instance ('toil') or ('turns' from 'to turn'). In southern Bernese German (not in the city of Bern), the closing diphthongs merge with the near-close monophthongs to , for instance instead of ('cloth'). This phenomenon is also found in the neighbouring Bernese Highlands and Sense District dialects. In northern Bernese German, a following triggers rounding of the preceding vowel, for instance instead of ('because'). This phenomenon is also found in the neighbouring Solothurn and Lucerne dialects. Consonants are bilabial, is bilabial-labiodental, whereas are labiodental. has a labialized velar allophone , see below. is usually alveolar , but in the old upper-class dialect of the patricians it is uvular . are velar, whereas is palatal. vary between velar and uvular . In addition to occurring on its own, may occur as a realization of the sequence . Fortis and lenis consonants Bernese German obstruents occur in pairs, as in other Alemannic varieties. These pairs are usually called fortis and lenis. They are not distinguished by voicedness, but they differ in length. A difference in tenseness is also discussed. It has not been established whether length or tenseness is the primary feature that distinguishes these pairs. Likewise, there are different possibilities of transcription. They are often transcribed with the IPA-signs for pairs of voiceless and voiced obstruents