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Empfang
/ˈɛmˌpfaŋ/
reception
Der Empfang im Hotel war sehr freundlich.
The reception at the hotel was very friendly.
neutral
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.
neutral
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.
Technology
technical
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
Empfangshallereception hallEmpfangsbereichreception areaguter Empfanggood receptionschlechter Empfangpoor reception
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.
Word Breakdown
Emp-
prefix indicating reception or acceptance
prefix-fang
related to catching or grasping
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