Ich lese gern
/ɪç ˈleːzə ɡɛrn/word by word
The English phrase "I like to read" is translated into German as Ich lese gern.
This phrase is used to express that someone enjoys the activity of reading.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the subject Ich (I), the verb lese (read) and the adverb gern (gladly/with pleasure).
How does it change in a sentence?
The variation Ich lese gerne is interchangeable with Ich lese gern. The extra e is simply added to the adverb. To specify what you enjoy reading, you place the object directly after gern without using a preposition like "to" or "of".
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪç ˈleːzə ɡɛrn/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say Ich mag lesen by translating "I like to read" literally. In German, using gern is the standard way to express enjoying an activity.
Did you know?
- While Ich lese gern expresses a general hobby, Germans use the word lesesüchtig to describe someone who is 'reading-addicted' in a positive or obsessive way.
- To describe the act of reading for pleasure specifically, Germans might use the term Schmökern, which evokes the image of cozy, leisurely browsing.
- The word gern is a distant relative of the English word 'yearn', sharing a common ancestor that expressed a sense of eagerness or longing.
Examples in context
- Ich lese gerne Witze.I like to read jokes.This sentence shows how to specify the object of what you like to read using Ich lese gern.Tatoeba #1714407 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1665048 by Amastan
- Ich lese gerne nachts.I like to read at night.This sentence shows how to specify the time of day you like to read using Ich lese gern.Tatoeba #11971852 by Naina, translation #11950678 by zogwarg
- Ich lese gerne Gedichte.I like to read poems.This sentence shows how to specify the type of literature you like to read using Ich lese gern.Tatoeba #13705492 by Vortarulo, translation #8924213 by CK
- Ich lese gerne. Besonders interessiere ich mich für Romane.I like to read. I am especially interested in novels.
- Lesen macht mir echt Spaß, vor allem Krimis.Reading is really fun for me, especially crime novels.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their hobbies in a cafe.
- LauraWas machst du in deiner Freizeit, Julian?What do you do in your free time, Julian?
- JulianIch spiele Fußball. Und du, Laura?I play football. And you, Laura?
- LauraIch lese gern.I like to read.
- JulianDas ist ein schönes Hobby.That is a nice hobby.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Ich, Lese, gern) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ich, gern, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
