21 December 2025
How do you say broadcaster or sender in German?
The German word for broadcaster, transmitter, or sender is der Sender.Sender in German is used across contexts: it can mean a television or radio station, a signal transmitter, or someone sending information. For letters, packages and emails, Absender is the usual word. It’s a practical word that’s useful in both tech and media - and surprisingly common in everyday life.
It’s also one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (get the full illustrated PDF for free).
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Sender.Need help with German noun genders? This video lesson makes it easy with memorable tips.
Pronunciation:Sender is pronounced [ZEN-duh]
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“ZEN” like “ten” with a soft z
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“duh” - final -er is usually lightly vocalized, roughly like the a in sofa.Two syllables: ZEN-duh
Example sentences
Der Sender zeigt heute Abend einen neuen Film.
The broadcaster is showing a new movie tonight.
Der Absender des Pakets ist unbekannt.
The sender of the package is unknown.
Der Sender hat das Signal verloren.
The transmitter lost the signal.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
“Welchen Sender schaust du am liebsten?”
Which channel do you like best?
“Ich habe den Namen des Senders vergessen.”
I forgot the name of the station.
“Der neue Radiosender spielt nur 90er-Hits.”
The new radio station only plays 90s hits.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Mira: Welcher Sender überträgt das Spiel?Tom: Ich glaube ZDF.Mira: Super - dann schalt mal ein!Tom: Mach ich sofort.
Translation:Mira: Which channel is broadcasting the game?Tom: I think ZDF.Mira: Great - then turn it on!Tom: Will do.
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:Der Sender ist nicht verfügbar.
The broadcaster is unavailable.
Accusative:Ich kenne den Sender nicht.
I don’t know the channel.
Dative:Mit dem Sender gibt es ein Problem.
There’s a problem with the transmitter.
Genitive:Das Programm des Senders ist langweilig.
The station’s programming is boring.
Other ways to say broadcaster or sender in German
While Sender is the go-to word for broadcaster or sender in German, you’ll find a few alternatives in specific contexts. For people or companies sending letters, packages or emails, Absender is the standard word. Übermittler might be used in technical fields. In digital communication, Absenderadresse means “sender’s address.” Use Sender for a broadcaster or transmitter and Absender for the sender named on mail.
Word variations and tidbits
You’ll encounter Sender in compound words like Fernsehsender (TV station), Radiosender (radio station), Nachrichtensender (news channel), Sendemast (transmission tower), and Sendersuchlauf (channel scan on TVs). In postal use, Absender appears on envelopes, and Rücksendung means a return shipment. You’ll also see Senderliste in digital TV menus, and Senderwahl (channel selection) is something every remote control user knows.
📘 Duden entry for Sender🎥 Want to tune into better vocabulary? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns - with grammar help, examples, and a printable PDF.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Sicht means? A weather broadcast may report poor visibility.And what about Seite? Every Sender has one.
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