lee
/lee/from spelling rules
The Spanish word for 'read' is lee.
lee is used to express the act of looking at and interpreting letters or other information. If you are referring to the act of reading itself as a noun, you would use lectura.
Meaning: to look at and interpret letters or other information (verb)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The infinitive form of the verb is leer. The present participle (gerund) is leyendo. For different tenses and subjects, use leí for 'I read' (first-person singular past), leyó for 'he/she read' (third-person singular past) and leas for the second-person singular subjunctive 'you read'.
How do you pronounce it?
/lee/
When do people say it?
In informal situations, there are specific ways to describe different styles of reading. Use echarle un vistazo a to mean 'to give something a glance' for a quick read, or darle una hojeada a to mean 'to give something a browse' when dealing with multi-page material. You can also use the expression leer por encima to convey the idea of skimming through something or reading superficially.
Did you know?
- The expression echarle un vistazo is a very common way to say you will 'read' something quickly, even though the verb echar actually means 'to throw'.
- To 'browse' a book or a magazine, Spanish speakers often use the verb hojear, which comes from the word hoja, meaning 'leaf' or 'sheet of paper'.
- In Spanish, the verb leer is used for interpreting non-textual signs, such as leer las cartas for reading tarot cards or leer el futuro for reading the future.
Examples in context
- Lo voy a leer.I'll read it.This example shows how to use the verb with an object.Tatoeba #2474755 by hayastan, translation #2247801 by CK
- No voy a leerlo.I won't read it.This example shows a negative statement regarding reading something.Tatoeba #2857693 by Besatnias, translation #2271984 by CK
- Lee en voz alta.Read aloud.This example demonstrates a command to read out loud.Tatoeba #9051311 by Galko, translation #8534642 by Amastan
- Leo el periódico todas las mañanas.I read the newspaper every morning.
- ¿Puedes echarle un vistazo rápido a este correo electrónico?Could you give this email a quick read?
- Mañana le daré una hojeada rápida a este libro.I'll give this book a quick read tomorrow.
- Tenemos que leer por encima el informe antes de la reunión.We need to read over the report before the meeting.
- 673 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are at a library.
- María¿Qué libro lee Daniel ahora?What book is Daniel reading now?
- DanielLeo una novela de misterio.I am reading a mystery novel.
- MaríaEspero que ella lee el final pronto.I hope she reads the ending soon.
- DanielSí, ella lee muy rápido.Yes, she reads very fast.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
