Opens in a new tab

Leer preterite conjugation

Leer in the preterite: leí, leíste, leyó, leímos, leísteis, leyeron.

  • to read
  • spelling change (i→y)
  • Participle: leído
  • Gerund: leyendo

Preterite pretérito

yoleí
túleíste
él/ella/ustedleyó
nosotrosleímos
vosotrosleísteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesleyeron

How to use leer in the preterite

The preterite needs care: leí, leíste, leyó, leímos, leyeron. The third-person forms use y, and the others carry an accent on the í to show that it is a separate syllable. Use it for something you finished reading or a specific act of reading: leí tu mensaje, leyó el discurso. Ya lo leí is the standard way to say 'I've already read it' in Latin America.

Examples

  • Ya leí tu mensaje, ahorita te contesto.

    I read your message, I'll answer in a bit.

  • La presidenta leyó un discurso muy emotivo.

    The president read a very moving speech.

  • ¿Leyeron las condiciones del contrato?

    Did you read the terms of the contract?

Quick check: leer in the preterite

1. yo · Preterite of leer
2. tú · Preterite of leer
3. vosotros · Preterite of leer
4. nosotros · Preterite of leer
5. él/ella/usted · Preterite of leer

More leer tenses

Other verbs in the preterite

Know your verbs, now find your level

Take a free placement test and get your CEFR level, then follow the grammar lessons that fit it.

Find your level