noun
Uncommon
telly
TEH-lee
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 notesIn 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
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Fancy watching some _____ tonight?
Etymology
A shortening of tele(vision) with the informal -y ending.
Synonyms
View more →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.