leer

To look at and interpret letters or other information that is written.

How to use

In formal or academic contexts, 'leer' is often used in the present tense to convey a sense of ongoing or habitual reading, e.g. 'Leo un libro cada noche' (I read a book every night). In informal settings, the imperfect tense is commonly used to describe past reading habits, e.g. 'Leía un libro cada noche' (I used to read a book every night). Learners often confuse the use of 'leer' with 'estudiar', but while both verbs can mean 'to read', 'estudiar' typically implies a more in-depth or analytical reading.