Why does the noun Lesung have the article die?

Nouns ending in -ung are always feminine. Look at the bolded -ung in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.

Examples

die Zeitung (newspaper), die Wohnung (apartment), die Bildung (education), die Hoffnung (hope), die Übung (exercise), die Meinung (opinion), die Erfahrung (experience)

Exceptions

der Sprung (jump), der Schwung (momentum) - these are verb stems, not the -ung suffix

Declension table for German noun Lesung

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Lesungeine Lesungkeine Lesung
Akkusativdie Lesungeine Lesungkeine Lesung
Dativder Lesungeiner Lesungkeiner Lesung
Genitivder Lesungeiner Lesungkeiner Lesung

Examples in context

Real sentences using Lesung in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die nächste Lesung ist morgen.The next reading is tomorrow.
Eine spannende Lesung beginnt bald.An exciting reading begins soon.
Keine langweilige Lesung findet statt.No boring reading takes place.
Akkusativ
Ich besuche die interessante Lesung.I am attending the interesting reading.
Er organisiert eine gute Lesung.He organizes a good reading.
Wir haben keine freie Lesung.We have no free reading.
Dativ
Ich gehe zu der öffentlichen Lesung.I am going to the public reading.
Er hilft bei einer neuen Lesung.He helps with a new reading.
Ich spreche bei keiner schlechten Lesung.I don't speak at any bad reading.
Genitiv
Der Beginn der neuen Lesung ist um acht.The beginning of the new reading is at eight.
Der Zweck einer guten Lesung ist klar.The purpose of a good reading is clear.
Der Inhalt keiner schlechten Lesung ist bekannt.The content of no bad reading is known.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.

Is it der, die, or das Lesung?

It is die Lesung. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Lesung is feminine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What is the plural of die Lesung?

The plural form of die Lesung is die Lesungen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does die Lesung mean in English?

The German word die Lesung translates to “reading (event)” in English.

How do you decline die Lesung?

Like all German nouns, Lesung changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: die Lesung
  • Akkusativ: die Lesung
  • Dativ: der Lesung
  • Genitiv: der Lesung

These changes are necessary because German uses cases to indicate the noun’s role in a sentence (such as the subject or object). Knowing these forms allows you to build grammatically correct sentences.