leyendo
“leyendo” means “reading” in Spanish (used in continuous/progressive tenses).
reading
Also: while reading, by reading
📝 In Action
Mi hermano está leyendo un cómic en el sofá.
A1My brother is reading a comic book on the sofa.
Ella pasó toda la mañana leyendo los informes.
A2She spent the whole morning reading the reports.
Siempre aprendes más leyendo el texto original.
B1You always learn more by reading the original text.
Llevamos tres horas leyendo el mismo capítulo sin parar.
B2We have been reading the same chapter for three hours without stopping.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: leyendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'leyendo' to describe an action happening right now?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *legere*, which originally meant 'to gather' or 'to collect,' before evolving to mean 'to read' (specifically reading aloud or gathering meaning from text).
First recorded: Old Spanish records show forms derived from *legere* used for reading as early as the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'leyendo' the same as 'leer'?
'Leer' is the base form (the infinitive, meaning 'to read'). 'Leyendo' is the action form (the gerund, meaning 'reading'). You use 'leyendo' when the action is ongoing or when you are describing how something is done.
Can I use 'ser' instead of 'estar' with 'leyendo'?
No. When describing an action that is currently in progress ('I am reading'), you must always use 'estar'. 'Ser' describes permanent characteristics or identity.