Lektüre

Lektüre is a German noun that refers to reading material or the act of reading, especially texts chosen for a particular purpose. It can denote the texts themselves—such as novels, essays, or articles—as well as the activity of reading. In everyday language, it appears in phrases like eine interessante Lektüre (an interesting read) or Schul-Lektüre (school reading). The term is widely used in education, publishing, and cultural contexts.

Etymology traces Lektüre to the word for reading in French, lecture, from Latin lectura, meaning a reading or passage read. In German, the term has been in use since early modern periods to describe curated or intended reading material.

Usage and classifications commonly appear in educational settings. In schools, Lektüre often denotes assigned reading, with common pairings such as Pflichtlektüre (required reading) and Freie Lektüre (leisure or voluntary reading). A Lektüre can be a single title or a group of texts studied together, sometimes accompanied by tasks like summary, analysis, or discussion of the material.

Modern contexts broaden the concept beyond print. Today, Lektüre includes digital texts such as e‑books, PDFs, and online articles, as well as traditional printed material. Across contexts, the term remains centered on written content that readers engage with for information, study, or enjoyment.

See also: Pflichtlektüre, Freie Lektüre, Literatur, Lesestoff, Leseliste.