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.
'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' and 'mitlesen' both have to do with understanding written text. 'lesen' is used generally when someone reads a text themselves. 'mitlesen' means that you read at the same time as another person, or that you passively follow the messages in a chat, forum, or document. So the difference lies in the 'mit-': you are not reading alone or not actively as the main person, but are reading along with something. Learners may confuse the words because in both cases text is being read. If only one person is reading a book or message, 'lesen' fits; if someone is reading along with others or in the background, 'mitlesen' fits.
Während der Besprechung liest die Chefin im gemeinsamen Dokument mit.
During the meeting, the boss reads along in the shared document.
Abends liest Tom oft ein paar Seiten, bevor er schlafen geht.
In the evenings, Tom often reads a few pages before going to sleep.