leído
“leído” means “read” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
read
📝 In Action
He leído ese informe tres veces.
A1I have read that report three times.
Ellos habían leído el contrato antes de firmar.
B1They had read the contract before signing.
well-read
Also: learned, erudite
📝 In Action
Es una mujer muy leída; siempre tiene algo interesante que decir.
B1She is a very well-read woman; she always has something interesting to say.
Los estudiantes más leídos destacaron en el debate.
C1The most learned students stood out in the debate.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: leído
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'leído' as an adjective (describing a quality)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *legere*, meaning 'to gather' or 'to read'. The Spanish form 'leído' evolved from the Latin past participle *lectus*, following sound changes common in Spanish.
First recorded: Medieval period
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'leído' spelled with an accent mark?
The accent mark is there to ensure the 'i' is pronounced strongly and separately from the 'e' (le-Í-do), preventing the two vowels from blending into a single sound. This pattern happens in a few other past participles like 'traído' and 'caído'.
How is 'leído' different from 'leyendo'?
'Leído' is the past participle used for finished actions ('I have read'). 'Leyendo' is the gerund, used for ongoing actions ('I am reading').