Television vocabulary

How do you like to watch TV? Do you stream? Does anyone still buy DVD box sets?! Do you binge-watch your favourite show? Do you prefer subtitles or dubbing? Are you a couch potato? Keep reading to learn what these words mean and more.

subtitles = words at the bottom of the screen for people who can't hear or need a translation
dubbing = audio translation by actors replacing original sound for foreign viewers
stream = watch a show directly from the internet or streaming service like Netflix
binge-watch = watch several episodes one after another
box(ed) set = a set of DVDs or all episodes of a series available to stream or download all at once. (It can also refer to DCs or books.) 
cliffhanger = exciting ending that makes you want to watch the next episode because you really want to know what's going to happen next
spoiler = information that you read or hear which tells you what is going to happen in a story and spoils your enjoyment
couch potato = a person who spends a lot of time watching TV and does not have an active lifestyle
episode = one part of a longer story, often 45 minutes or an hour long
season = all the episodes shown in one year, especially in America, where one season might be 20 or more episodes
series = (1) a programme that contains multiple episodes. (2) another word for "season" in British English
Notice that the singular and plural are the same - one series, two series
For example:
My favourite series at the moment is "Grey's Anatomy". At the moment, I'm watching season (USA) /series (UK) 8.

Some other words for a television:
television set
TV
telly (British English)
the small screen
the babysitter
the box
the idiot box
goggle-box

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