Inklingo

How to Say "reading" in Spanish

English → Spanish

lectura

/lek-TOO-ra//lekˈtuɾa/

nounA1general
Use 'lectura' when referring to the general activity or habit of reading, or when talking about the data displayed by a gauge or meter.
A person sitting in a comfortable armchair, holding an open book and looking down at the pages, fully engrossed in the activity of reading.

Examples

La lectura es mi pasatiempo favorito.

Reading is my favorite hobby.

Practicamos la lectura en voz alta en clase.

We practice reading aloud in class.

Su nivel de lectura ha mejorado mucho.

Her reading level has improved a lot.

La lectura del termómetro era anormalmente baja.

The thermometer reading was abnormally low.

Gender Alert

Remember that 'lectura' is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.

Abstract Usage

When used abstractly (like 'interpretation'), it always works with the preposition 'de' (of) to link it to the object being analyzed: 'lectura DE la situación'.

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Using 'leer' (the verb) when you need the noun: 'Me gusta leer' (I like to read) vs. 'Me gusta la lectura' (I like reading as an activity).”

Correction: Use the noun 'lectura' when talking about the activity as a whole, and the verb 'leer' when describing the action.

leyendo

/leh-YEN-doh//leˈʝendo/

verbA1general
Use 'leyendo' as the present participle (gerund) when describing someone actively engaged in the act of reading at a specific moment, forming continuous tenses.
A simplified illustration showing a person sitting and focused on reading an open book held in their hands.

Examples

Mi hermano está leyendo un cómic en el sofá.

My brother is reading a comic book on the sofa.

Ella pasó toda la mañana leyendo los informes.

She spent the whole morning reading the reports.

Siempre aprendes más leyendo el texto original.

You always learn more by reading the original text.

The Continuous Action

Use 'leyendo' right after a form of 'estar' (like 'estoy' or 'estás') to show an action is happening in the moment, similar to the '-ing' form in English.

The 'Y' Rule (Irregular Spelling)

The base verb 'leer' (le-er) ends in a vowel, and the normal ending for -er verbs is -iendo. Spanish avoids having three vowels in a row (le-iendo), so the 'i' changes to a 'y' to make the pronunciation smoother: 'leyendo'.

Forgetting the 'y'

Mistake: “Estoy leiendo.”

Correction: Estoy leyendo. Remember that the 'i' becomes a 'y' when the verb root ends in a vowel (like 'leer', 'creer', or 'oír').

interpretación

nounB1general
Choose 'interpretación' when you mean a specific understanding, version, or explanation of something, rather than the act of reading itself.

Examples

Tu interpretación de los hechos es muy diferente a la mía.

Your interpretation of the facts is very different from mine.

Confusing 'lectura' and 'interpretación'

The most common mistake is using 'lectura' when you mean a personal understanding or viewpoint. Remember, 'lectura' refers to the act of reading or a meter's display, while 'interpretación' is about how you understand or explain something.

Related Translations

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