German word of the day: Das Komaglotzen

We’ve all been there: when one episode turns into one season, which turns into two seasons, and so on, until we look at the clock and realize that we’ve fallen into yet another binge-watching session on Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Though the phrase “binge-watching” has certainly made its way into German conversations, das Komaglotzen can also be used to describe the act of watching a lot of television at once.
Glotzen by itself is a verb often used colloquially to describe the act of staring at something with eyes wide open and a “stupid” expression on the face. Koma refers simply to a coma.
Komaglotzen describes the experience of watching television (or shows on a laptop) for many hours at a time, letting episode after episode auto-play until the entire afternoon or evening seems to disappear.
READ ALSO: Germans embracing TV streaming services in record numbers
Binge-watching too much? Watch out, you might even get labelled with the new German word Komaglotzer, one who binge-watches.
Various studies have been done in the US and around the world since the rise of Netflix and other streaming services about the effects of binge-watching on attention spans, mental health, and social connections. The results are mixed, but who doesn’t give in to the occasional television binge?
Netflix’s Dark, its first original German-language series, is Germany’s most commonly streamed show at the moment.
Looking for your next binge-worthy show? Channel your inner Komaglotzer with our recommendations.
Examples
Ich habe die ganze Serie per Komaglotzen gesehen.
I have binge-watched the whole series.
Komaglotzen macht Spaß, besonders wenn man müde ist.
Binge-watching is fun, especially when one is sleepy.
Ein Komaglotzer ist nicht immer faul!
A binge-watcher is not always lazy!
Comments (1)
See Also
Though the phrase “binge-watching” has certainly made its way into German conversations, das Komaglotzen can also be used to describe the act of watching a lot of television at once.
Glotzen by itself is a verb often used colloquially to describe the act of staring at something with eyes wide open and a “stupid” expression on the face. Koma refers simply to a coma.
Komaglotzen describes the experience of watching television (or shows on a laptop) for many hours at a time, letting episode after episode auto-play until the entire afternoon or evening seems to disappear.
READ ALSO: Germans embracing TV streaming services in record numbers
Binge-watching too much? Watch out, you might even get labelled with the new German word Komaglotzer, one who binge-watches.
Various studies have been done in the US and around the world since the rise of Netflix and other streaming services about the effects of binge-watching on attention spans, mental health, and social connections. The results are mixed, but who doesn’t give in to the occasional television binge?
Netflix’s Dark, its first original German-language series, is Germany’s most commonly streamed show at the moment.
Looking for your next binge-worthy show? Channel your inner Komaglotzer with our recommendations.
Examples
Ich habe die ganze Serie per Komaglotzen gesehen.
I have binge-watched the whole series.
Komaglotzen macht Spaß, besonders wenn man müde ist.
Binge-watching is fun, especially when one is sleepy.
Ein Komaglotzer ist nicht immer faul!
A binge-watcher is not always lazy!
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