der Leser
reader
A person who reads a text, for example in a book, a newspaper, or on a website.
EXAMPLE
Der Autor erhielt viele positive Rückmeldungen von seinen Lesern.
The author received a lot of positive feedback from his readers.
der Leser
reader
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Meanings
der Leser
reader
A technical device that reads data from a storage medium.
EXAMPLE
Mein neuer Laptop hat keinen CD-Leser mehr, deshalb brauche ich ein externes Laufwerk.
My new laptop no longer has a CD reader, so I need an external drive.
der Leser
reader
A person who professionally reviews and evaluates manuscripts or texts, for example for a publishing house or an agency.
EXAMPLE
Als Leser bei einem großen Verlag muss man täglich viele neue Manuskripte sichten.
As a reader at a large publishing house, you have to review many new manuscripts every day.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Leser' (reader) is derived directly from the verb 'lesen' (to read). The ending '-er' refers to a person or device that performs the action of the verb.
EXAMPLE
Ein guter Autor versteht, was seine Leser erwarten.
A good author understands what their readers expect.
Context clue
You can tell from context whether a person or a device is meant. Words like 'Buch' (book), 'Zeitung' (newspaper), or 'Autor' (author) point to the person. Technical terms like 'Karte' (card), 'CD' (CD), or 'Daten' (data) point to the device.
EXAMPLE
Bitte stecken Sie Ihre Bankkarte in den Leser.
Please insert your bank card into the reader.
Typical collocations
For the person who reads, there are typical collocations such as 'ein begeisterter Leser' (an enthusiastic reader), 'ein treuer Leser' (a loyal reader), or 'Leser ansprechen' (to appeal to readers). The word 'Leserbrief' (letter to the editor) as a response to an article is also a common combination.
EXAMPLE
Als begeisterter Leser kauft er jede Woche mehrere Bücher.
As an enthusiastic reader, he buys several books every week.
Register
The meaning as a person who professionally reviews texts for a publishing house is specialized language from the book and media industry. This meaning is rare in everyday language.
EXAMPLE
Das Manuskript wurde von drei verschiedenen Lesern abgelehnt.
The manuscript was rejected by three different readers.
Compare with
Leser vs Kritiker
critic
A Leser (reader) professionally reviews and evaluates a manuscript, for example internally for a publishing house. A Kritiker (critic) evaluates literature or other works of art for an audience, typically in a published review. The key distinction is whether the focus is on editorial evaluation or public criticism.
Leser
Der Leser prüft den neuen Roman vor der Entscheidung des Verlags.
The reader reviews the new novel before the publishing house makes its decision.
Kritiker
Der Kritiker beurteilt den neuen Roman nach seiner Veröffentlichung in der Zeitung.
The critic reviews the new novel in the newspaper after its publication.
In real life
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