Lesestoff

Lesestoff is a German noun that designates material suitable for reading. Literally translated as "reading matter," it refers to a broad range of texts used for leisure or study, including novels, magazines, newspapers, comics, blogs, and non-fiction. In everyday language the term is often used to refer to something one intends to read or to the overall stock of textual content available to a reader or audience.

The term is formed from lesen (to read) and Stoff (material, content). It is widely used in both informal speech and professional contexts, such as libraries, publishing, and media, to describe the assortment of texts offered to readers. It can be contrasted with reference works or didactic materials, which serve different purposes.

Usage examples illustrate its flexibility: “Ich brauche noch Lesestoff für den Urlaub” (I need more reading material for the vacation) or “Der Verlag präsentiert neuen Lesestoff” (The publisher presents new reading material). Adjectival qualifiers like guter Lesestoff, leichter Lesestoff, or umfangreicher Lesestoff are common to characterize the nature or quality of the texts.

In the digital age, Lesestoff also includes online content and longer-form materials on websites and apps, reflecting changes in reading habits and formats. The term remains a convenient shorthand for discussing the variety and availability of texts intended for reading.

See also: reading material, Leseempfehlungen, Leseverhalten.