der
Fernseher
📺 What exactly is a 'Fernseher'?
A Fernseher (der Fernseher, masculine) is an electronic device with a screen used to receive and display television broadcasts. In English: television set or TV set. It's a central medium for entertainment and information in many households.
The word is derived from fern (far) and sehen (to see), literally meaning "a device with which one can see far away things".
Since it only uses the article der, the meaning is unambiguous, and there's no risk of confusion with other articles.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Devices → mostly masculine.
Caution: das Gerät
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
📊 Grammar: Declension of 'der Fernseher'
The noun 'der Fernseher' is masculine. Here are the declension tables for singular and plural:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Fernseher |
| Accusative | den | Fernseher |
| Dative | dem | Fernseher |
| Genitive | des | Fernsehers |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Fernseher |
| Accusative | die | Fernseher |
| Dative | den | Fernsehern |
| Genitive | der | Fernseher |
💡 Example Sentences
- Nominative: Der Fernseher im Wohnzimmer ist neu. (The TV set in the living room is new.)
- Accusative: Wir kaufen heute den Fernseher. (We are buying the TV set today.)
- Dative: Ich gebe dem Fernseher einen besseren Platz. (I am giving the TV set a better spot.)
- Genitive: Die Bildqualität des Fernsehers ist hervorragend. (The picture quality of the TV set is excellent.)
- Plural Nominative: Die Fernseher werden immer flacher. (TV sets are getting flatter and flatter.)
- Plural Dative: In modernen Haushalten steht oft in mehreren Räumen etwas vor den Fernsehern. (In modern households, something often stands in front of the TV sets in several rooms.)
🛋️ How to use 'Fernseher'?
The term 'Fernseher' is used in everyday language for the receiving device (the TV set).
- Context: People talk about buying a Fernseher, the TV program (das Fernsehprogramm), placing the device in the room, or technical features (e.g., size, resolution).
- Colloquialisms: Synonyms like 'Glotze' or 'Flimmerkiste' are colloquial and often slightly derogatory or humorous.
- Distinction: 'Fernsehen' (das Fernsehen, neuter) refers to the act of watching television or the medium as a whole (e.g., „Ich schaue Fernsehen“ - I watch TV, „Das Fernsehen berichtet darüber“ - Television reports about it). 'Der Fernseher' is always the device. ⚠️ Be careful not to confuse these two!
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
- Article 'der': Think: DER Apparat (the apparatus), DER Kasten (the box), DER Bildschirm (the screen) - many technical devices or box-like objects are masculine in German. Or: DER Mann (the man) watches TV with his FernsehER. The '-er' ending often indicates masculine nouns in German (like 'der Drucker' - the printer, 'der Rechner' - the computer), especially for devices or agents derived from verbs.
- Meaning 'Fernseher': The word combines fern (far) and sehen (to see). So, a Fern-seher is a device for seeing things that are far away.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- Fernsehgerät (neutral, technical term for TV set)
- TV-Gerät (neutral, abbreviation for TV set)
- Bildschirm (screen - part of the TV, sometimes used synonymously)
- Mattscheibe (colloquial for screen/TV)
- Glotze (colloquial, informal for TV, like 'telly' or 'box')
- Flimmerkiste (colloquial, dated, 'flicker box')
Related Terms
- Fernsehen (das, the act of watching TV / the medium)
- Fernsehsendung (die, TV show/program)
- Fernbedienung (die, remote control)
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum nehmen Skelette keinen Fernseher mit ins Bett?
Weil sie Angst vor dem Knochenprogramm haben! 😄
English: Why don't skeletons take a TV set to bed?
Because they're afraid of the 'bone program'! (Pun on 'Abendprogramm' - evening program, and 'Knochen' - bone)
✍️ Poem about the Fernseher
German:
Ein Kasten steht, ganz still und breit,
Der Fernseher, für die Abendzeit.
Er flimmert hell, zeigt Bild und Ton,
Mal Drama, Spaß, mal Information.
Von fernen Welten kündet er,
Bringt uns das Lachen und noch mehr.
Doch schalt ihn aus, die Welt bleibt bunt,
Auch ohne ihn zu jeder Stund'.
English Translation:
A box it stands, quite still and wide,
The TV set, for eventide.
It flickers bright, shows image, sound,
Now drama, fun, now news profound.
Of distant worlds, it tells its tale,
Brings laughter to us without fail.
But switch it off, the world stays bright,
Even without it, day and night.
❓ A Little Riddle
German:
Ich hab' 'nen Schirm, doch keinen Regen.
Ich zeig' dir viel auf allen Wegen.
Mit Knopfdruck bring' ich dir die Welt ins Haus,
Mal laut, mal leise, welch ein Schmaus.
Was bin ich?
English Translation & Answer:
I have a screen, but bring no rain.
I show you much, again and again.
With button press, I bring the world inside,
Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, nowhere to hide.
What am I?
(Answer: Der Fernseher / The TV set)
✨ Other Information
Word Composition
The word 'Fernseher' is a compound noun, composed of:
- fern: adverb/prefix meaning 'far' or 'remote'.
- sehen: verb meaning 'to see'.
- -er: suffix, here forming an agent noun (someone or something performing the action or enabling it), specifically for devices.
Trivia
Television technology has evolved rapidly – from black-and-white cathode-ray tube (CRT) sets (Röhrengeräte) to today's Smart TVs with internet access (Internetzugang) and ultra-high definition (UHD) resolutions like 4K and 8K.
Summary: is it der, die or das Fernseher?
The word 'Fernseher' is masculine, so the correct article is always der Fernseher. Its declension follows the standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in '-er'.