TV
/tivˈvu/feminine
In Italian, TV is the abbreviation for television. Wiktionary also lists tivù.
Meaning: abbreviation for television (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| TV | /tivˈvu/ /tiˈvu/ |
feminine |
| tivù | /tiˈvu/ | feminine |
TV is used as a common abbreviation for television. When you want to express the action of watching TV, you can use the phrase guardare la televisione.
Which one should you use?
TV is a common abbreviation used in both speech and writing, whereas televisione is the full, formal noun used in more structured or technical contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
TV is an informal form. In more formal settings, you might use the full word televisione or the technical term apparecchio televisivo, which translates to 'television device'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both TV and tivù are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/tivˈvu/
Did you know?
- The spelling tivù reflects how Italians phonetically adapted the English pronunciation of the letters 'T' and 'V' into their own alphabet.
- Despite the English influence, tivù retains a feminine gender because it inherits the gender of la televisione.
- In Italy, the word televisione can refer to the physical device, the medium of broadcasting or the specific program being watched.
Examples in context
- Tom è in TV!Tom is on TV.This sentence is useful for saying someone is appearing on TV.Tatoeba #13790467 by Guybrush88, translation #5190883 by CK
- È in TV ora.He is on TV now.Tatoeba #14002505 by Guybrush88, translation #9023981 by Amastan
- Io ho una TV.I have a TV.This sentence is useful for stating that you own a TV.Tatoeba #13790476 by Guybrush88, translation #8820198 by CK
- Guardo sempre la televisione la sera prima di andare a dormire.I always watch TV in the evening before going to bed.
- Hai visto il nuovo programma televisivo?Have you seen the new TV show?
- Hai visto l'ultima smart TV? È incredibile!Have you seen the latest smart TV? It's amazing!
- 1206 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are in the living room.
- FrancescoAccendi la TV, per favore.Turn on the TV, please.
- SofiaCosa c'è in TV?What is on TV?
- FrancescoC'è un film molto bello.There is a very good movie.
- SofiaAllora la guardiamo insieme.Then let's watch it together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tv” translations and entries TV, tivù, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tivù, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
