Lesson 10.2 Der Besuch

In this lesson the phrase der Besuch is translated as the visitor (masc).

My English-German dictionary translates it as the visit, and that the visitor is der Besucher or die Besucherin (fem).

Is that correct?

That's what mine says too, I was also confused by the usage in this lesson

The Leo dictionary gives some examples.

https://dict.leo.org/german-english/Besuch

Der Besuch - visitors (no plural) - Gäste

and Busuch haben  to have company/ visitors

This might also help:

https://dict.leo.org/german-english/visitor

Added:

Looking at 10.2 Renting an apartment extra vocab, there is an entry:

der Besuch

the visitor (masc.) 

I think this is inaccurate. Perhaps it could be changed to something like:

Der Besuch (no plural)

visitors/company

Thanks sf.

My confusion was that if der Besuch meant visitor, what then would be the word for “a visit”?

In the meantime I've bookmarked the page you provided. Who knew there were so many synonyms!

It is a bit confusing, but if I understand correctly,  in this context Besuch is visitors or company, not the visitor der Besucher.

Then there is der Besuch, die Besuche which is the visit, visits.

I guess you have to go by context.

I think the entry in 10.2 Extra vocab is misleading.

In all the examples I found of this usage of Besuch, it is used without an article. Perhaps our tutor could comment on this.

Ich habe Besuch

Thanks for your help Simon.

Agreed, a tutor input would be useful!

I asked my german friend about this and it seems I was on the wrong track about not using an article with Besuch for visitors, so it seems that it is context after all.

Hi everyone!

Thank you for your question!

You are right, sfpugh, it depends on the context which meaning is intended. Another translation of Besuch is “company” as in “Ich habe Besuch.” - “I have company/visitors.”  In saying that, the word Besuch (as well as “company”) doesn't specify if it's just one visitor or multiple. 

Let me give you a few examples:

• “der Besuch” - “the visitor(s)”

“Ich habe Besuch.” - “I have company/visitors."

“Der Besuch ist da!” - “The visitors are here!”

“Ich erwarte Besuch.” - “I expect company.”

• “der Besuch” - “the visit”

“Der Besuch des Professors war interessant.” - “The visit of the professor was interesting.”

“Der Besuch des Kolosseums hat mir gefallen.” - “I enjoyed the visit of the Colosseum.”

• “der Besucher” - “the visitor” (masc.)  / “die Besucherin” - “the visitor” (fem.)

“Heute waren hunderte von Besuchern und Besucherinnen auf der Ausstellung.” -"Today hundreds of visitors (male and female) were at the exhibition."

“Er grüßte die Besucherin.” - “He greeted the visitor (fem.).”

I hope this helps!

Viele Grüße,

Julia

Vielen Dank Julia!