die  Lesung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈleːzʊŋ/

📖 What does "die Lesung" mean?

The noun die Lesung (feminine) has several meanings, often related to reading texts aloud:

• Public reading by an author: The most common meaning refers to an event where an author reads from their work. Example: Ich gehe heute Abend zur Lesung meines Lieblingsautors. (I'm going to my favorite author's reading tonight.)
• Reading in a church service: The reading of texts from holy scriptures during a religious service (scripture reading). Example: Die Lesung aus dem Evangelium war sehr bewegend. (The reading from the Gospel was very moving.)
• Parliamentary reading: The consideration of a bill in parliament in various stages (first reading, second reading, etc.). Example: Der Gesetzentwurf befindet sich in der zweiten Lesung. (The bill is in its second reading.)
• (Technical) Reading of data: Less common, but possible in a technical context as a synonym for reading data from a storage medium.

🚨 Important: Although derived from the verb "lesen" (to read), "die Lesung" usually refers to a specific event or process of reading aloud, not the general act of reading (for which you'd typically say "das Lesen").

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of "die Lesung" in Detail

"Lesung" is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:

Singular Declension

Plural Declension

Example Sentences

1. Die Lesung des neuen Romans war gut besucht.
   (The reading of the new novel was well attended.)
2. Wir hörten aufmerksam der Lesung zu.
   (We listened attentively to the reading.)
3. Im Bundestag stehen heute drei Lesungen auf der Tagesordnung.
   (There are three readings on the agenda in the Bundestag today.)
4. Die nächste Lesung findet im Gemeindesaal statt.
   (The next reading will take place in the community hall.)

💡 How to use "die Lesung"?

The usage of die Lesung depends heavily on the context:

• Cultural context: Used for an Autorenlesung (author reading), Buchlesung (book reading), or Dichterlesung (poetry reading). Often held in bookstores, libraries, or at literature festivals.
• Religious context: Usually refers to the Schriftlesung (scripture reading), a fixed part of many church services.
• Political context: In parliament, one speaks of the erste, zweite, or dritte Lesung (first, second, or third reading) of a law. This describes the stages of deliberation and voting.
• Technical context: Less common, but possible, e.g., the Lesung of measured values or data. However, more specific terms like Auslesen (reading out), Ablesen (reading off), or Datenabruf (data retrieval) are more frequently used here.

Comparison:

• Das Lesen: The general act of reading (e.g., Das Lesen bildet. - Reading educates.).
• Die Vorlesung: Can mean a university lecture, but also sometimes used synonymously with Lesung in the sense of a public reading, although Lesung is often more specific to authors.
• Die Rezitation: The artistic performance of a text, often recited from memory with emphasis on vocal expression (poems, ballads).

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Lesung"

Article Mnemonic (die):

Many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (like die Übung - the exercise, die Meinung - the opinion, die Hoffnung - the hope). Think: die Veranstaltung (the event), die Vorlesung (the lecture/reading) -> die Lesung.

Meaning Mnemonic:

Imagine an author giving a reading - it's a specific event or undertaking related to reading aloud. The "-ung" ending signals an event or process -> die Lesung.

🔄 Synonyms & Related Terms

Similar but different words:

• Das Lesen: The general act of reading.
• Die Lese: The grape harvest.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Verleger den Autor: "Wie war die Lesung gestern Abend?"
Antwortet der Autor: "Fantastisch! Es gab Standing Ovations!"
Verleger: "Wirklich?"
Autor: "Naja, fast. Ein Zuhörer ist währenddessen eingeschlafen und beim Aufwachen vom Stuhl gefallen – alle anderen sind aufgestanden, um besser sehen zu können."

Translation:
The publisher asks the author: "How was the reading last night?"
The author replies: "Fantastic! There was a standing ovation!"
Publisher: "Really?"
Author: "Well, almost. One audience member fell asleep during it and fell off his chair when waking up – everyone else stood up to get a better view."

✒️ Poem about a Reading

Im Raum wird's still, das Licht gedimmt,
Ein Autor auf die Bühne schwimmt.
Das Buch bereit, die Stimme klar,
Beginnt die Lesung, wunderbar.

Von Wort zu Wort, die Seiten flieh'n,
Geschichten uns durchs Herze zieh'n.
Ein Zauber, der im Raum entsteht,
Wenn eine gute Lesung lebt.

Translation:
The room grows quiet, the light is dimmed,
An author onto the stage has swimmed (figurative).
The book prepared, the voice is clear,
Begins the reading, wonderful, dear.

From word to word, the pages fly,
Stories pull through our hearts, up high.
A magic born within the space,
When a good reading finds its place.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin ein Ereignis, kein Buch allein,
man lauscht gebannt, ob groß, ob klein.
Ein Autor teilt sein Werk mit dir,
oder im Parlament sind's Stufen hier.
Im Gotteshaus hörst du mich auch,
aus heil'gem Text, so ist der Brauch.

Was bin ich? ... Die Lesung

Translation:
I am an event, not just a book,
People listen raptly, take a look.
An author shares their work with you,
Or in parliament, I'm stages passing through.
In church, you also hear my sound,
From holy text, it does abound.

What am I?
... The reading (die Lesung)

🧩 Other Tidbits

Word Formation

Die Lesung is a noun derived from the verb lesen (to read). The suffix -ung is frequently used in German to form nouns from verbs, often describing a process, result, or state (e.g., üben -> die Übung [exercise], hoffen -> die Hoffnung [hope]). These nouns are almost always feminine.

Cultural Significance

Autorenlesungen (author readings) are an important part of literary life in German-speaking countries. They offer authors the opportunity to connect directly with their audience and present their works personally.