Biphenylylethanes of the formula I,R.sup.1 --CH.sub.2 --X--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.m --Ph--Ph--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --Ph--Y--CH.sub.2 --R.sup.2 Iin whichR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each, independently of one another, alkyl, alkenyl or oxaalkyl having up to 12 C atoms, and one of the radicals R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is alternatively H,m is 0 or 1,X and Y are each, independently of one another, O, S, CO--O, O--CO, O--CO--O or a single bond, the radical X is alternatively 1,4-phenylene or trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, and the radical Y is alternatively trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, andis 1,4-phenylene, and one or two of the radicals Ph is alternatively 2- or 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene,with the proviso that, in the case (a) where X=1,4-phenylene and m=1, one or two of the radicals Ph are 2- or 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, and (b) in the case where X=trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, m=0 and one or two of the radicals Ph are 2- or 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, are suitable as components of liquid-crystalline phases.