Meaning
Watching television programs.
Cultural Background
The show 'Teleenciclopedia' is a cultural icon. For decades, 'a se uita la TV' on Saturday evenings meant watching this educational program, which has been running since 1965. New Year's Eve (Revelion) is the peak of TV culture. It is a tradition to stay up all night and 'a se uita la TV' to watch the variety shows (programul de Revelion). Telenovelas from Latin America were a massive phenomenon in the 90s and 2000s, making 'a se uita la TV' a daily social ritual for many Romanian women. Football (fotbal) is the most watched content by men. 'A se uita la TV la meci' is a standard social excuse for gathering with friends.
The Reflexive Rule
Always remember the reflexive pronoun. Without it, you're saying you 'forget' the TV!
Preposition Pitfall
Never say 'în TV'. It's always 'la TV'.
Meaning
Watching television programs.
The Reflexive Rule
Always remember the reflexive pronoun. Without it, you're saying you 'forget' the TV!
Preposition Pitfall
Never say 'în TV'. It's always 'la TV'.
TV vs Televizor
Use 'TV' for casual talk and 'televizor' if you want to sound slightly more articulate.
Social Watching
In Romania, watching TV is often a background for conversation, not just a silent activity.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.
Eu ___ uit la TV în fiecare seară.
For the first person singular (Eu), the reflexive pronoun is 'mă'.
Choose the correct preposition.
Noi ne uităm ___ TV.
The verb 'a se uita' always takes the preposition 'la' when referring to watching something.
Match the subject with the correct verb form.
Subjects: 1. Tu, 2. Ei, 3. Noi, 4. Ea
Each subject requires a specific reflexive pronoun and verb ending.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
Andrei: Ce faci? Maria: _________ (I am watching TV).
'Mă uit la TV' is the only grammatically correct and natural way to express this.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Watch vs See
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEu ___ uit la TV în fiecare seară.
For the first person singular (Eu), the reflexive pronoun is 'mă'.
Noi ne uităm ___ TV.
The verb 'a se uita' always takes the preposition 'la' when referring to watching something.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Each subject requires a specific reflexive pronoun and verb ending.
Andrei: Ce faci? Maria: _________ (I am watching TV).
'Mă uit la TV' is the only grammatically correct and natural way to express this.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, it's very common now. It follows the same grammar: 'Mă uit la [Platform Name]'.
'A se uita' is more common and casual. 'A privi' is more formal or implies a deeper, more aesthetic gaze.
No, it's pronounced 'te-ve', following the Romanian alphabet names for T and V.
There isn't a single word. You can say 'Mă uit la multe episoade la rând' (I watch many episodes in a row).
Usually no. 'Mă uit la TV' is a set phrase. You only use 'un' if you mean 'a specific TV set'.
That's just a feature of the Romanian reflexive third person; it doesn't change between singular and plural.
Technically yes, but it's more accurate to say 'Mă uit la un film pe telefon'.
It depends on the tone, but 'Te uiți prea mult la TV' is a common piece of advice or criticism.
It comes from 'buton' (button). It means clicking through channels without really watching anything.
Use 'L-am văzut la TV'. Here you use 'a vedea' because it's a completed observation.
It is neuter (un televizor, două televizoare).
No, that would be 'Mă uit la aparatul de TV', which sounds like you're inspecting it.
Related Phrases
A butona
similarTo channel surf
A viziona un film
specialized formTo view a movie
A sta la televizor
similarTo sit at the TV
A privi
synonymTo look/watch
