Empfang
/ˈɛmˌpfaŋ/the act of receiving or welcoming someone or something
Der Empfang der Gäste dauerte mehrere Stunden.
The reception of the guests took several hours.
Often used in contexts like hotels, events, or official meetings.
a social gathering or event to welcome someone
Es gibt einen Empfang für die neuen Mitarbeiter.
There is a reception for the new employees.
Common in business and academic settings.
the act of receiving a signal, data, or information
Der Empfang des Radiosenders war schwach.
The reception of the radio station was weak.
Used in telecommunications and broadcasting.
Collocations
💡Pro Tip
Common Collocations
Remember common collocations like 'Empfangshalle' (reception hall) and 'Empfangsbereich' (reception area) to sound more natural in German.
⚡Gold Rule
Gender and Article
'Empfang' is a masculine noun in German, so it always takes the definite article 'der' and indefinite article 'ein'.
📖Word Origin
From Middle High German 'enpfanc', from Old High German 'infang', from Proto-Germanic '*infangą', equivalent to 'in-' + 'fang' (catch, grasp). Related to English 'receive'.
📝Usage Notes
In German, 'Empfang' is a masculine noun (der Empfang). It is commonly used in formal and neutral contexts, such as hotels, events, or technical settings like signal reception.