The German verb "empfangen" means "to receive" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "empfangen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "empfangen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | empfange |
| du | you (informal) | empfängst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | empfängt |
| wir | we | empfangen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | empfangt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | empfangen |
Er empfängt Besuch.
say it air emp-FENGT beh-ZOOKH
He receives visitors.
In other languages
- French Il reçoit des visiteurs.
- Spanish Él recibe visitas.
- Dutch Hij ontvangt bezoekers.
Ich empfange den Anruf.
say it ikh emp-FAHN-gheh den AHN-roof
I receive the call.
In other languages
- French Je reçois l'appel.
- Spanish Recibo la llamada.
- Dutch Ik ontvang het telefoontje.
How to Conjugate "empfangen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | empfing |
| du | you (informal) | empfingst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | empfing |
| wir | we | empfingen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | empfingt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | empfingen |
Er empfing die Gäste.
say it air emp-FEENG dee GES-te
He received the guests.
In other languages
- French Il a reçu les invités.
- Spanish Él recibió a los invitados.
- Dutch Hij ontving de gasten.
Ich empfing den Brief.
say it ikh emp-FEENG den breef
I received the letter.
In other languages
- French J'ai reçu la lettre.
- Spanish Recibí la carta.
- Dutch Ik ontving de brief.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe empfangen |
| du | you (informal) | hast empfangen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat empfangen |
| wir | we | haben empfangen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt empfangen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben empfangen |
Er hat den Brief empfangen.
say it Air haht den breef emp-FAHN-gen
He received the letter.
In other languages
- French Il a reçu la lettre.
- Spanish Él recibió la carta.
- Dutch Hij ontving de brief.
Ich habe das Paket empfangen.
say it IHK hah-buh dahs pah-KET emp-FAHN-gen
I received the package.
In other languages
- French J'ai reçu le colis.
- Spanish Recibí el paquete.
- Dutch Ik ontving het pakket.
How to Conjugate "empfangen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte empfangen |
| du | you (informal) | hattest empfangen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte empfangen |
| wir | we | hatten empfangen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet empfangen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten empfangen |
Er hatte die Nachricht empfangen.
say it AIR HAH-tuh dee NAKH-rikht emp-FAHN-gen
He had received the message.
In other languages
- French Il avait reçu le message.
- Spanish Había recibido el mensaje.
- Dutch Hij had het bericht ontvangen.
Ich hatte das Paket empfangen.
say it IHK HAH-tuh dahs pah-KET emp-FAHN-gen
I had received the package.
In other languages
- French J'avais reçu le colis.
- Spanish Había recibido el paquete.
- Dutch Ik had het pakket ontvangen.
How to Conjugate "empfangen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde empfangen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst empfangen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird empfangen |
| wir | we | werden empfangen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet empfangen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden empfangen |
Er wird Besuch empfangen.
say it AIR virt beh-ZOOK emp-FAHNG-en
He will receive visitors.
In other languages
- French Il recevra des visiteurs.
- Spanish Recibirá visitantes.
- Dutch Hij zal bezoekers ontvangen.
Ich werde das Paket empfangen.
say it IHK VAY-duh das pah-KET emp-FAHNG-en
I will receive the package.
In other languages
- French Je recevrai le colis.
- Spanish Recibiré el paquete.
- Dutch Ik zal het pakket ontvangen.
How to Conjugate "empfangen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | empfange |
| du | you (informal) | empfangest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | empfange |
| wir | we | empfangen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | empfanget |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | empfangen |
Er empfange die Nachricht.
say it air emp-FAHN-gheh dee NAKH-rikht
He receives the message.
In other languages
- French Il reçoit le message.
- Spanish Recibe el mensaje.
- Dutch Hij ontvangt het bericht.
Ich empfange das Paket.
say it ikh emp-FAHN-gheh dahs pah-KET
I receive the package.
In other languages
- French Je reçois le colis.
- Spanish Recibo el paquete.
- Dutch Ik ontvang het pakket.
How to Conjugate "empfangen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | empfinge |
| du | you (informal) | empfingest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | empfinge |
| wir | we | empfingen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | empinget |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | empfingen |
Er empfinge den Brief.
say it air emp-FEE-nuh den BREEF
He would receive the letter.
In other languages
- French Il recevrait la lettre.
- Spanish Él recibiría la carta.
- Dutch Hij zou de brief ontvangen.
Ich empfinge das Paket.
say it IHK emp-FEE-nuh dahs pah-KET
I would receive the package.
In other languages
- French Je recevrais le colis.
- Spanish Recibiría el paquete.
- Dutch Ik zou het pakket ontvangen.
Frequently Asked Questions About "empfangen"
Is "empfangen" regular or irregular in German?
"Empfangen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "empfangen" mean in English?
The German verb "empfangen" means "to receive" in English.
How do you conjugate "empfangen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → empfange, du → empfängst, er/sie/es → empfängt, wir → empfangen, ihr → empfangt, sie/Sie → empfangen.
How many tenses does "empfangen" have in German?
"Empfangen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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