The verb "lesen" means:
to read
Ich lese gern Bücher
I like to read books
Liest du gerade ein Buch?
Are you reading a book?
In der Schule werden wir bald Gedichte lesen
We will soon read poems at school
Structure: lesen + [accusative] (what is read)
"lesen" is an irregular verb.
| Verb | Präteritum | Partizip II | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| lesen | las | gelesen | to read |
Main article: Irregular verbs
| Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ich lese | I read |
| du liest | you read |
| er liest | he reads |
| wir lesen | we read |
| ihr lest | you read |
| sie lesen | they read |
Welchen Roman liest du im Moment?
What novel are you reading right now?
Ich lese gerade „Die Blechtrommel“ von Günther Grass
I’m reading "The Tin Drum" by Günther Grass
| Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ich habe gelesen | I have read |
| du hast gelesen | you have read |
| er hat gelesen | he has read |
| wir haben gelesen | we have read |
| ihr habt gelesen | you have read |
| sie haben gelesen | they have read |
Ich habe in der Zeitung gelesen, dass es heute regnen soll
I read in the paper that it’s supposed to rain today
| Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ich las | I read |
| du last | you read |
| er las | he read |
| wir lasen | we read |
| ihr last | you read |
| sie lasen | they read |
| Conjugation |
|---|
| ich läse |
| du läsest |
| er läse |
| wir läsen |
| ihr läset |
| sie läsen |
| Partizip I | Partizip II |
|---|---|
| lesend (reading) | gelesen (read) |
| Person | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd person singular | lies | read |
| 2nd person plural | lest | read |
| Polite form | lesen Sie | read |
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| durchlesen | to skim/read through (separable verb) |
| nachlesen | to reread (separable verb) |
| vorlesen | to read aloud (inseparable verb) |