Anrufbeantworter

/ˈanʁuːfbəˈʔantvɔrtɐ/

answering machine

Der Anrufbeantworter hat eine Nachricht für dich aufgenommen.

The answering machine recorded a message for you.

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

In modern German, 'Anrufbeantworter' is often replaced by 'Voicemail' or 'Mailbox'.

From German 'Anruf' (call) + 'Beantworter' (answerer), literally 'call answerer'.

Now largely replaced by voicemail services on smartphones, but still used in some contexts.

Anruf

call

root

Beantworter

answerer

root

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