Leserlich

Leserlich is an adjective in German meaning legible or easily readable, typically describing handwriting or printed text that is clear and unambiguous. It denotes letters that can be distinguished without effort and with appropriate spacing; the opposite is unleserlich. The noun forms are Leserlichkeit, the quality of legibility, and Lesbarkeit, the broader concept of readability of text.

The term derives from lesen (to read) with the suffix -erlich. In practice, Leserlichkeit is used especially for the clarity of individual letters and the overall legibility of handwriting or typography, whereas Lesbarkeit is more about how easy it is to read a text as a whole—its structure, vocabulary and layout.

In education, administration and design, Leserlichkeit is a standard criterion: teachers value a leserliche Handschrift, and forms or notices are designed to maximize Leserlichkeit through clear typefaces, ample spacing and high contrast. For digital texts, high Leserlichkeit improves machine recognition in OCR and accessibility for readers with visual impairment.

Synonyms include lesbar, while related terms are Leserlichkeit and Lesbarkeit. The distinction is subtle and varies by context: Leserlichkeit emphasizes the physical clarity of letters; Lesbarkeit emphasizes overall readability.