Lesender

Lesender is a term formed from the German verb lesen (to read) and the agentive suffix -er, used in some German-language texts to denote a person who reads. In standard German the common noun for a reader is Leser (male) or Leserin (female). The form Lesender is less common but appears in contexts aiming to emphasize the active role of reading, similar to the English “the reader” as an agent. The feminine form is Lesende or Leserin; plural Lesende/Leserinnen depending on context. The term is sometimes used in literary theory and reading psychology to refer to the reader as an active interpreter rather than a passive recipient.

In literary theory, the lesender is discussed in connection with reader-response criticism, interpretive communities, and reception theory. Analysts may examine how a lesender’s background, knowledge, and expectations shape the interpretation of a text.

Variants and related terms include Lesende (present participle used as a noun) and Leserinnen, Lesende (gender-inclusive forms). The usage is stylistic and regionally variable, and the form is not widely standardized in dictionaries.

See also: Leser, Leserin; reader-response theory; reception theory.