vorlesen

Vorlesen is a German verb meaning to read aloud, i.e., to read a text aloud to someone else. The act is common in families, classrooms, libraries, and media contexts, and it is often associated with storytelling, literacy development, and language learning.

Grammatically, vorlesen is a separable verb. In the present tense the prefix is separated: ich lese vor, du liest vor, er liest vor, wir lesen vor. The past tense is formed with the simple past or the perfect: ich las vor; ich habe vorgelesen. A typical construction is “Ich lese dir eine Geschichte vor.”

das Vorlesen refers to the activity itself: “das Vorlesen fördert die Sprachentwicklung.” The noun can be used in compounds such as Vorlesestunde, Vorlesewettbewerb, or Vorleseprogramme, which designate sessions, competitions, or programs centered on reading aloud.

In education and child development, the practice supports listening comprehension, pronunciation, and vocabulary. In families, it is a common bedtime ritual. Researchers and educators emphasize regular, age-appropriate Vorlesen to build early literacy and positive attitudes toward reading, including for children with reading difficulties or non-native language learners.

Related expressions include “jemandem etwas vorlesen” (to read something aloud for someone) and “vorlesen lassen” (to have someone read aloud for you). Other related concepts include “mitlesen” (to read along) and “Vorlesewettbewerb” (a reading-aloud competition).