Leserinnen

Leserinnen is the feminine plural noun in German that designates female readers or a female portion of an audience. It is used to refer to women who read newspapers, books, websites, or other media, and can appear as a stand-alone reference to female readers or as part of a broader, gender-inclusive formulation.

Etymology and grammar: Leserinnen is formed from the masculine noun Leser (reader) with the feminine plural suffix -innen. In many contexts, German style guides prefer pairing the masculine form with the feminine form to include all readers, yielding Leserinnen und Leser. For neutral or collective references to an audience, other terms such as Leserschaft or Publikumsbegriff are used.

Usage in media and communication: In journalism and publishing, Leserinnen is commonly encountered when a text or marketing material targets female readers or wishes to emphasize a female audience. When the intention is to address all readers, the paired form Leserinnen und Leser or neutral terms are often employed. In some contexts, the feminine form alone may appear as a stylistic choice or as part of a longer phrase emphasizing women readers.

Sociolinguistic context: The use of gender-specific forms, including Leserinnen, is part of broader debates on gender-inclusive language in German. Since the late 20th century, many institutions have advocated explicit inclusive forms (Leserinnen und Leser) to acknowledge all genders, while others prefer neutral or compressed forms such as Leserschaft or Lesende. Style guidelines vary by publication, region, and audience.

See also: Leser, Leserschaft, Leserinnen und Leser, Publikumsbegriff.