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Der Fernseher ist zu laut.

Der Fernseher ist zu laut.
The TV is too loud.

Breakdown of Der Fernseher ist zu laut.

sein
to be
zu
too
der Fernseher
the TV
laut
aloud
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Questions & Answers about Der Fernseher ist zu laut.

Why is it der Fernseher and not das Fernseher or die Fernseher?

In standard German, Fernseher (meaning the TV set as a device) is grammatically masculine, so it takes the masculine article der in the nominative singular.

  • der Fernseher = the television set (device)
  • das Fernsehen = television (as a medium, the activity of watching TV)

You only change the article if the case or number changes, e.g. den Fernseher (accusative) or die Fernseher (plural).

What case is der Fernseher in here, and why?

Der Fernseher is in the nominative case. It is the subject of the sentence; it is the thing that “is” something.

Pattern:

  • [Subject in nominative] + ist + [description]
    So: Der Fernseher (subject, nominative) ist zu laut (predicate).
Why doesn’t laut have an ending like laute or lauter here?

Because laut is used as a predicate adjective after the verb sein (ist). Predicate adjectives in German do not take endings; they stay in their basic form.

Compare:

  • Der Fernseher ist laut. (predicate → no ending)
  • Der laute Fernseher nervt mich. (attributive, before the noun → laute gets an ending)
What exactly does zu mean in zu laut? Is it like English “very”?

No. In this context zu means “too” in the sense of “excessively”, not “very”.

  • zu laut = too loud (louder than acceptable)
  • sehr laut = very loud (just describing a high degree, not necessarily “too much”)

So Der Fernseher ist zu laut implies a problem: the TV is louder than it should be.

Can I put zu after the adjective, like laut zu?

No. The degree word zu always comes before the adjective or adverb it modifies:

  • zu laut, zu klein, zu teuer, zu schnell

You cannot say laut zu in standard German.

Why is the verb ist in the second position? Could I say Der Fernseher zu laut ist?

German main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb (here ist) must be in second position. So the standard neutral order is:

  • Der Fernseher (1st position) ist (2nd position) zu laut (rest of the sentence)

Der Fernseher zu laut ist is ungrammatical in normal German word order.

You can move something else to the front for emphasis, but the verb still stays second:

  • Zu laut ist der Fernseher. (emphasis on “too loud”)
What’s the difference between der Fernseher and das Fernsehen?
  • der Fernseher (masculine) = the TV set, the physical device in your room
    • Der Fernseher ist zu laut. → The TV (device) is too loud.
  • das Fernsehen (neuter) = television as a medium or activity
    • Das Fernsehen ist langweilig. → Television (as what’s on TV) is boring.

So in your sentence, you must use der Fernseher, because you’re talking about the noise made by the device.

What is the plural of Fernseher, and would the sentence change?

The plural form of Fernseher is also Fernseher; the word itself doesn’t change, but the article does:

  • Singular: der Fernseher ist zu laut. → The TV is too loud.
  • Plural: die Fernseher sind zu laut. → The TVs are too loud.

Notice that der → die and ist → sind in the plural.

Why is Fernseher capitalized but laut and zu are not?

In German, all nouns are capitalized. Fernseher is a noun (a thing), so it must begin with a capital letter: Fernseher.

Adjectives and adverbs like laut and zu are normally not capitalized, so they stay lowercase unless they start a sentence.

Could I leave out the article and just say Fernseher ist zu laut?

Not in normal, full-sentence German. In standard grammar you need the article:

  • ✅ Der Fernseher ist zu laut.
  • ❌ Fernseher ist zu laut. (sounds like a note or headline at best)

You might see article-less forms in headlines, labels, or notes, e.g. on a checklist: “Fernseher: zu laut”, but that’s not normal spoken sentence structure.

How would I say “The TV is too loud for me / for the neighbors” in German?

You can simply add a für + accusative phrase at the end:

  • Der Fernseher ist zu laut für mich. → The TV is too loud for me.
  • Der Fernseher ist zu laut für die Nachbarn. → The TV is too loud for the neighbors.

Note that für always takes the accusative: für mich, für dich, für ihn, für die Nachbarn, etc.

Can this sentence be used as a complaint, or is it just a neutral description?

In context, Der Fernseher ist zu laut. is commonly used as a complaint or hint that someone should turn it down. It often functions like:

  • “The TV is too loud (please lower the volume).”

Tone and context decide how strong the complaint is, but grammatically it’s just a statement.

How do you pronounce Fernseher and laut?

Approximate pronunciation:

  • Fernseher → [ˈfɛʁnˌzeːɐ]

    • Fern like “fairn” (short e, German r at the end),
    • seh like “zay” (long e),
    • -er like a very light “uh/er” with a German r.

  • laut → [laʊ̯t]

    • similar to English “lout”: lau like “l-ow” and final t clearly pronounced.
Is ist from the verb sein, and could I use another verb here instead?

Yes. Ist is the 3rd person singular of sein (“to be”):

  • ich bin
  • du bist
  • er/sie/es ist
  • wir sind
  • ihr seid
  • sie sind

Here you really need sein, because you are describing a state (“is too loud”). Other verbs like klingt (“sounds”) are possible, but they change the meaning slightly:

  • Der Fernseher ist zu laut. → The TV is too loud.
  • Der Fernseher klingt zu laut. → The TV sounds too loud (more focus on the sound you perceive).