empfangen

receive

verb emp-FANG-en Less Common

Also means

welcome

Usage Note

empfangen is the more formal counterpart to bekommen, used for receiving guests, signals, or sacraments. Beware the false friend: a hotel reception desk is der Empfang, and a woman can also empfangen in the sense of conceiving a child.

Examples

"Wir empfangen heute Gäste."

Natural Translation

We are receiving guests today.

Literal Translation

We receive today guests.

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