to read along / lurk
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to read along
To read something at the same time as another person, for example by looking over their shoulder or looking at the same document.
Darf ich bei dir mitlesen? Ich habe mein Buch vergessen.
May I read along with you? I forgot my book.
to lurk
In a digital conversation, for example in a chat or forum, to read other people's posts without actively participating yourself.
Ich schreibe nicht oft in der Gruppe, aber ich lese immer still mit.
I don't write in the group often, but I always lurk quietly.
'Mitlesen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'mit' goes at the end in a main clause. In a subordinate clause, the verb stays together.
Ich lese kurz in deiner E-Mail mit, wenn es okay ist.
I'll briefly read along in your email, if that's okay.
The prefix 'mit-' means 'together with' or 'at the same time'. So you read together with another person or at the same time as others are writing.
Meine kleine Tochter liebt es, beim Vorlesen im Buch mitzulesen.
My little daughter loves reading along in the book when someone reads aloud.
When you read together with a person, you often use the preposition 'bei'. The construction is then 'bei jemandem mitlesen' (to read along with someone).
Entschuldigung, darf ich kurz bei Ihnen mitlesen? Ich habe mein Programm nicht.
Excuse me, may I briefly read along with you? I don't have my program.
This meaning is typical of digital communication. It describes passive reading in chats, forums, or social media without writing yourself. The combination 'still mitlesen' (to quietly read along / lurk) is very common here.
Ich bin neu in der WhatsApp-Gruppe und lese erstmal nur still mit.
I'm new to the WhatsApp group and for now I'm only quietly reading along.
to read
Lesen generally means reading posts or a text here. Mitlesen additionally indicates that you are following other people's posts without actively participating yourself. Use lesen for your own reading and mitlesen when passive participation in a shared digital conversation is important.
Ich lese im Gruppenchat nur mit und schreibe selbst nichts.
I’m just reading along in the group chat and not writing anything myself.
Ich lese die Nachrichten im Gruppenchat und beantworte eine davon.
I’m reading the messages in the group chat and replying to one of them.
