Besuch erwarten

You use it just like a normal verb-object pair. The word Besuch stays singular, even if twenty people are coming! You say Ich erwarte Besuch or Wir erwarten Besuch. You can add time markers like heute (today) or später (later) to be more specific. It’s a very flexible phrase. You can use it to explain why you're cleaning or why you can't go out tonight.

Use this phrase when you are preparing your home for guests. It’s perfect for declining an invitation politely. If a friend asks you to go to the cinema, you can say, "I can't, I'm expecting visitors." It also works in professional settings. If you need to leave the office on time because your in-laws are arriving, this is your go-to phrase. It sounds organized and respectful of your guests' time.

Don't use this for professional appointments outside your home. If you have a doctor's appointment, use einen Termin haben. Also, don't use it if you are the one going somewhere. That would be zu Besuch sein. If the person coming over is just a delivery driver, Besuch erwarten sounds a bit too formal. You wouldn't usually call the pizza guy "Besuch"—unless you're really lonely!

In Germany, hosting is often a planned event. Spontaneous visits do happen, but "expecting visitors" usually implies some preparation. This often involves the sacred tradition of Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake). If you tell a German neighbor you erwarten Besuch, they will assume you have a cake in the oven. It’s a sign of hospitality and social connection that Germans value deeply.

You might also hear Besuch bekommen (to get visitors). This is slightly more passive. Besuch haben means the guests are already there. If you want to sound more formal, you could use Gäste empfangen (to receive guests). But for 90% of your life, Besuch erwarten is the perfect middle ground. It’s neither too stiff nor too messy.