Anrufbeantworter
/ˈanʁuːfbəˈʔantvɔrtɐ/noun★Intermediate
formal
A device that records incoming phone calls when the recipient is unavailable to answer.
Bitte hinterlassen Sie eine Nachricht auf dem Anrufbeantworter.
Please leave a message on the answering machine.
💡
Common in homes and offices before the widespread use of smartphones.
Collocations
Anrufbeantworter abhörento listen to the answering machineAnrufbeantworter einschaltento turn on the answering machine
Synonyms
💡Pro Tip
Modern Usage
In modern German, 'Anrufbeantworter' is often replaced by 'Voicemail' or 'Mailbox'.
📖Word Origin
From German 'Anruf' (call) + 'Beantworter' (answerer), literally 'call answerer'.
📝Usage Notes
Now largely replaced by voicemail services on smartphones, but still used in some contexts.
Word Breakdown
Anruf
call
rootBeantworter
answerer
rootDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch