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German vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "to read" in German?
lesen
In German, "to read" is lesen.
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Pronunciation
LAY-zen. The first vowel is long 'a', the 'z' sounds like 'ts'.
Grammar notes
Strong verb, past tense las, past participle gelesen. Takes the accusative object.
Example sentence
Ich lese ein Buch.
I read a book.
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How to remember lesen
The root is 'les-', which you can spot in English words like 'legible' or 'lesson'.
Related words
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- wake up aufwachen
Browse all German words in the glossary.
Questions about lesen
How do you say "to read" in German?
In German, "to read" is lesen. It is a noun.
How is lesen written in German?
lesen is written using the standard German script.
How is lesen used in a sentence?
Use lesen as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: Ich lese ein Buch. (I read a book.).
Where can I practice German words for free?
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"To read" in other languages
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