German · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Television" in German: Fernseher
der Fernseher
Television (the set) in German is der Fernseher, a masculine noun. The activity of watching TV is fernsehen, often written as TV too.
Living room
Der Fernseher ist zu laut.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Fernseher
Say it
FAIRN-zeh-er
/ˈfɛʁnzeːɐ/
FAIRN-zeh-er. Fern- like "fairn", stress first syllable.
"Television" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der Fernseher | television set The device. | The device. |
| fernsehen | to watch TV The activity. | The activity. |
| das Fernsehen | television (medium) Broadcasting as a concept. | Broadcasting as a concept. |
| der Fernseher / TV | TV TV is common in speech. | TV is common in speech. |
How to use Fernseher in real life
- 1Living room
Der Fernseher ist zu laut.
The television is too loud.
Der Fernseher is the set.
- 2Moving day
Wohin stellen wir den Fernseher?
Where do we put the television?
Den Fernseher is accusative.
- 3Shopping
Unser neuer Fernseher hängt an der Wand.
Our new television hangs on the wall.
Neuer Fernseher stays masculine.
Mistakes English speakers make with Fernseher
Incorrect: die Fernseher (singular)
Correct: der Fernseher
Singular is der Fernseher; plural die Fernseher.
Incorrect: Ich Fernseher jeden Abend.
Correct: Ich sehe jeden Abend fern. / Ich schaue Fernseher.
Watching uses fernsehen, not Fernseher as a verb.
Good to know
People say TV as often as Fernseher. Public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF) still shape what das Fernsehen means culturally beyond the device.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Movie night setup
ChatPal
Geht der Fernseher noch, oder brauchen wir HDMI?
Is the television still working, or do we need HDMI?
You
Der Fernseher geht. Nur der Ton wackelt.
The television works. Only the sound is flaky.
ChatPal
Okay, ich stelle den Fernseher leiser.
Okay, I'll turn the television down.
You
Danke. Dann bleibt der Fernseher an.
Thanks. Then the television stays on.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Television" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Television" in German
What gender is Fernseher?
Masculine: der Fernseher.
How do you say watch TV?
Fernsehen / fernsehen.
Is TV used in German?
Yes, very commonly.
What is the plural?
Die Fernseher.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
