lectura

Lectura is a Spanish noun that designates the act or process of reading. It can refer to decoding written text to derive meaning, the skill of reading itself, or the text that has been read. The term covers both silent reading and reading aloud and is commonly used in educational, literary, and everyday contexts.

Etymology and usage: Lectura comes from Latin lectura, related to legere, “to read.” In Spanish, it functions as a feminine noun and is used in phrases such as la lectura de un libro, una lectura crítica, or la lectura en voz alta. In addition to describing the act, it can denote a particular interpretation or analysis of a text, for example when scholars discuss distintas lecturas de una obra.

Education and culture: In pedagogy, lectura encompasses decoding, fluency, and comprehension—the core components of literacy. Distinctions often appear between lectura en voz alta (reading aloud) and lectura silenciosa (silent reading). Lectura crítica refers to analytic reading that evaluates argument, evidence, and rhetoric. In everyday use, it also denotes assigned readings or the texts that one is currently reading.

Contemporary context: The rise of digital media has transformed lectura, with ebooks, online articles, and multimedia texts changing reading habits and access to material. Across Spanish-speaking communities, lectura remains a central term for discussing literacy, study, literature, and interpretation, linking traditional practices with contemporary reading environments.