Empfang

Empfang is a German noun with several related meanings centered on the act of receiving or the place where that activity occurs. It can denote the reception of people or objects, the reception of signals or broadcasts, or a social event in which guests are welcomed. In everyday use the sense depends on context, as in the reception area of a building or the act of welcoming visitors in a home or office.

As a linguistic term, Empfang stems from the verb empfangen, meaning to receive or to greet. The prefix emp- historically marks a transitive action of taking in or welcoming something. In practical usage, compounds such as Empfangsbereich (reception area), Empfangsbestätigung (receipt confirmation), and Radio- or Fernseh-Empfang (signal reception) illustrate the term's breadth across hospitality, logistics, and communications.

Empfang can also designate a formal social occasion, such as a diplomatic or ceremonial reception. In this sense it refers to hosting and greeting, rather than to the physical space or the act of taking something. Related terms include Rezeption and Annahme.