noun
answering machine, voicemail
A1
Anrufbeantworter: masculine noun meaning 'answering machine' or 'voicemail' (device/service for recorded messages). Plural identical: 'Anrufbeantworter'. Genitive singular adds -s: 'des Anrufbeantworters'. Common phrase: 'auf den Anrufbeantworter sprechen' (to leave a message). Regular declension otherwise. Used at home or in offices; often 'den Anrufbeantworter abhören'.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Ich habe die Nachricht auf dem Anrufbeantworter.
I have the message on voicemail.
Als sie ins Büro kamen, lag auf dem Anrufbeantworter eine Nachricht, die der Kunde hinterließ.
When they arrived at the office, there was a message on the answering machine that the customer had left.
Der Anrufbeantworter hat eine Nachricht.
The answering machine has a message.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
a small machine with a tape and blinking light labeled 'ANRUFBEANTWORTER'
an-ruf-be-antwort-er — literally 'answerer of calls'
der = imagine a man answering the machine's call
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Masculine noun. Often used in everyday phone contexts; can be replaced by 'Voicemail' in modern usage.