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noun Uncommon

telly

TEH-lee
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Telly (noun) means British informal word for television, either the broadcast medium or the physical set. Example: “Fancy watching some telly tonight?”

noun
1
British informal word for television, either the broadcast medium or the physical set.
"Fancy watching some telly tonight?"
"We need a bigger telly for the living room."

How to use telly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCasual British word for TV.

When to use it

Informal and mainly British — Americans would just say "TV."

Common pairings
watch telly on the telly
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Word forms

Plural
tellies, tellys
Comparative
more telly
Superlative
most telly
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Fancy watching some _____ tonight?

Etymology

A shortening of tele(vision) with the informal -y ending.

Related words

Rhymes for telly

See all rhymes for telly →

Frequently asked questions

What does “telly” mean?
The word “telly” means british informal word for television, either the broadcast medium or the physical set. In plain terms, casual British word for TV.
How do you pronounce “telly”?
“Telly” is pronounced TEH-lee (/ˈtɛli/ in IPA).
How do you use “telly” in a sentence?
Here is “telly” used in a sentence: “Fancy watching some telly tonight?”
What is another word for “telly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “telly” include tube and TV.
What part of speech is “telly”?
“Telly” is a noun.
Is “telly” a common word?
“Telly” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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