telly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (in informal British English)Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “telly” mean?
A television set or the medium of television broadcasting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A television set or the medium of television broadcasting.
Informal term for television as a device, system, or content; sometimes used to refer to the act of watching television.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Common in British English; rare in American English where 'TV' is preferred.
Connotations
In British English: friendly, domestic, unpretentious. In American English: may sound quaint or deliberately British.
Frequency
Very frequent in UK spoken English across most demographics; almost never used in US everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “telly” in a Sentence
watch + tellybe on + the tellysee + something + on + the tellyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “telly” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We're just tellying tonight.
- I tellyed all afternoon.
American English
- Not used as a verb in AmE.
adjective
British English
- He's a telly critic.
- It was a proper telly moment.
American English
- Not used as an adjective in AmE.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation about entertainment.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “telly”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “telly”
- Using 'telly' in formal writing.
- Using 'telly' in American contexts where it sounds unnatural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is strictly informal and colloquial.
You can, but it will immediately mark you as a British English speaker or someone using British slang. Americans almost exclusively say 'TV'.
The standard plural is 'tellies' (e.g., 'We have tellies in every room').
No, it can refer to the device ('turn on the telly'), the system ('she works in telly'), or the content ('that was great telly').
A television set or the medium of television broadcasting.
Telly: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɛli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɛli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “nothing on the telly”
- “good telly”
- “telly trash”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of telling a story – a 'telly' tells you stories with pictures.
Conceptual Metaphor
TELEVISION IS A FRIEND (informal, approachable appliance).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'telly' most commonly used?