Rundfunkgebühr

broadcasting fee

noun ROONT-foonk-geh-buer Rare

Also means

licence fee

Usage Note

Rundfunkgebühr is the compulsory fee paid by households and businesses in Germany to fund public broadcasting. Since 2013 it has been called Rundfunkbeitrag, but Rundfunkgebühr remains widely used informally.

Examples

"Die Rundfunkgebühr finanziert ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio."

Natural Translation

The broadcasting fee funds ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio.

Literal Translation

The broadcasting-fee finances ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

Weil vs Denn vs Da: "Because" in German

Weil and da send the verb to the end; denn keeps it in second position. Here's how to pick the right German "because" and place the verb correctly.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Du vs. Sie: When to Use Each in German

Use Sie with strangers, elders, and at work; use du with friends, family, kids, and peers. Here's how to pick the right German you every time.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

How to Memorize German Vocabulary Fast

Memorize German vocabulary fast with a five-step workflow: drill the top 100 words, learn nouns with their article, color-code gender, and use spaced repetition

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Compound Words: How to Read Any Long Word

Read any long German word by working right-to-left: the last noun sets the meaning and gender, and the small linking letters are just glue. Here's the drill.

June 9, 2026 6 min read