tévé

Tévé is a colloquial French term for television, used to refer to the television set, the television service, or the medium of television. In informal speech it is common in France and in Canadian French, notably Quebec. In formal writing, télévision is preferred.

Origin and forms: The word tévé is a clipping of télévision or téléviseur, part of a broader pattern of informal shortening in French. It is related to télé, but tévé typically designates the device or the medium in casual registers, whereas télévision is neutral in formal contexts and téléviseur denotes the hardware.

Usage: Phrases like "regarder la tévé" or "allumer la tévé" are widely heard in everyday speech; "la télévision" or "un téléviseur" are used in formal or precise contexts. The term may carry a slang or light-hearted tone and is more common in spoken language than in formal prose.

Technology and influence: Since the mid-20th century, television has been a central mass medium shaping home life, advertising, and culture. The rise of cable, satellite, digital terrestrial television, and streaming has changed viewing habits, with on-demand access supplementing or replacing traditional scheduled programming for many audiences.