leyendo un libro
/leʝendo un libɾo/from spelling rules
leyendo un libro is the Spanish way to say reading a book.
The phrase describes the act of looking at and understanding the words in a book. You can use the shortened phrase Estoy leyendo to say I am reading.
What does it mean word for word?
The word leyendo is the gerund form of the verb leer, which means reading.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the gerund leyendo is used with the verb estar to form the continuous aspect, similar to how you use is/am/are reading in English. To express the concept of the action itself, such as to read a book, you would use the infinitive leer un libro.
How do you pronounce it?
/leʝendo un libɾo/
Did you know?
- The root of leyendo comes from the Proto-Indo-European word *leǵ-, which originally meant 'to gather'. This suggests that reading was once viewed as gathering words together.
- In Spanish, if you say you are leyendo a person, you are not looking at words on their skin but are instead 'reading' their body language or character.
- If you are reading many books at once, the plural libros is used, but if you are describing someone who is an avid reader, you might call them a lector, which sounds much like the English 'lecturer'.
Examples in context
- Estaré leyendo un libro.I'll be reading a book.Tatoeba #1766481 by Shishir, translation #261753 by CK
- Él está leyendo un libro.He is reading a book.Tatoeba #502077 by Shishir, translation #296638 by CK
- Me dormí leyendo un libro.While reading a book, I fell asleep.Tatoeba #1067497 by Shishir, translation #322106 by CM
- Estoy leyendo una novela románticaI am reading a romantic novel
- ¿Estás leyendo un libro?Are you reading a book?
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are talking at a cafe.
- Alejandro¿Qué haces, Elena?What are you doing, Elena?
- ElenaEstoy leyendo un libro en el café.I am reading a book in the cafe.
- Alejandro¿Es un libro interesante?Is it an interesting book?
- ElenaSí, es muy entretenido.Yes, it is very entertaining.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries leyendo, libro, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
