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leer means to read — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 18, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

leer

verb • /[leh-EHR]/

to read

Example:

Me gusta leer por las noches.

I like reading at night.

🧠 What does leer mean?

The verb 'leer' means 'to read'. It refers to the action of looking at and understanding the meaning of written or printed words or symbols. As a regular -er verb, its conjugation follows standard patterns for most tenses, but it has an irregular past participle, 'leído', and a spelling change in some forms (e.g., 'leyó', 'leyendo') to maintain pronunciation.

📚 Extra examples

  • A mi hija le encanta que le lea un cuento antes de dormir.
    My daughter loves it when I read her a story before bed.
  • He leído todas las novelas de ese autor.
    I have read all the novels by that author.
  • El abogado está leyendo los términos del contrato con mucho cuidado.
    The lawyer is reading the terms of the contract very carefully.
  • Si leyeras más, mejorarías tu vocabulario.
    If you read more, you would improve your vocabulary.

💡 Did You Know?

The verb 'leer' comes from the Latin 'legere'. In Spanish, verbs like 'leer', 'creer', and 'oír' that have a vowel before the -er or -ir ending change the 'i' to a 'y' in certain conjugations (like the preterite 'leyó' and the gerund 'leyendo'). This orthographic change preserves the correct pronunciation.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "leer"

Synonyms: interpretar, descifrar, ojear, repasar
Opposites: escribir, ignorar

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to read' in Spanish?
To say 'to read' in Spanish, you use the verb 'leer'.
How do you pronounce 'leer' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is leh-EHR. It is a two-syllable word where both 'e' sounds are pronounced distinctly.
How do you use 'leer' in a sentence?
An example sentence is: 'Leo el periódico todas las mañanas', which means 'I read the newspaper every morning'.
What is the English translation of 'leer'?
The English translation of 'leer' is 'to read'.
Does 'leer' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'leer' does not change for gender. It is conjugated to match the subject in person (I, you, he, etc.) and number (singular, plural) as well as tense.
Is 'leer' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'leer' is an extremely common and fundamental verb used daily in all contexts, from casual conversation to academic writing.
Does 'leer' have slang or double meanings?
While its primary meaning is 'to read', 'leer' can be used metaphorically to mean 'to interpret' or 'to understand', such as in 'leer la situación' (to read the situation) or 'leerle la mente a alguien' (to read someone's mind).
Is 'leer' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The meaning and usage of 'leer' are consistent across all Spanish-speaking countries. There are no significant regional variations for this verb.
How do you conjugate 'leer' in Spanish?
'Leer' is a regular -er verb in the present tense (leo, lees, lee...). However, it undergoes a spelling change from 'i' to 'y' in the third-person preterite (leyó, leyeron), the gerund (leyendo), and related tenses to avoid a three-vowel sequence. Its past participle is also irregular: 'leído'.

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