What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a contraction of ver la televisión, where tele is a common shortening of televisión. Literally, it means "to see the tele".
Which one should you use?
While mirar can mean "to watch", the verb ver is the more natural and common choice when referring to the act of consuming television programs. Using mirar la tele sounds more like "to look at the TV" rather than the act of watching it.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ver la tele is a colloquial expression. For a more formal and complete version, you should use ver la televisión.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, people mostly use ver la tele to say watch TV. In Argentina, people often use the verb mirar instead of ver when referring to watching TV.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of "watching TV" (for example, "I am watching TV"), use the gerund viendo with the verb estar.
How do you pronounce it?
/beɾ la tele/
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb ver is a distant relative of the English words 'wit' and 'wise'. All these words share a common root meaning 'to see' or 'to know'.
- Depending on the country, using mirar or ver to describe watching TV can be a regional marker that tells a listener whether you are from Argentina or Mexico.
Examples in context
- Me gusta ver la tele.I like to watch TV.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for ver la tele.Tatoeba #556594 by Shishir, translation #255108 by CK
- ¿Ya puedo ver la televisión?May I watch TV now?This sentence is useful for asking permission to ver la tele.Tatoeba #728485 by Shishir, translation #241697 by CK
- No me gusta ver la televisión.I don't like to watch TV.This sentence is useful for expressing a dislike for ver la tele.Tatoeba #10191734 by Shishir, translation #13709858 by frpzzd
- ¿Le gustaría ver televisión conmigo?Would you like to watch TV with me?
- Voy a mirar televisiónI'm going to watch TV
- Vamos a ver la teleLet's watch TV
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are deciding what to do in the evening.
- Daniel¿Quieres ver la tele conmigo?Do you want to watch TV with me?
- SofíaSí, me parece un buen plan.Yes, that sounds like a good plan.
- DanielPodemos ver una película de acción.We can watch an action movie.
- Sofía¡Perfecto! Yo busco el control remoto.Perfect! I'll look for the remote.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, tele, ver, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
