German word

ablesen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈapˌleːzən/

Meaning

  • verbread off

Example

Ich lese die Werte ab.

I am reading off the values.

Illustration for ablesen (read off)

More examples

Sie konnte aus seiner Körpersprache Unsicherheit ablesen.

She could read uncertainty from his body language.

Core concept

Eyes lift a number from a dial or a clue from someone's outward behavior.

Common phrases

  • etwas aus der Körpersprache ablesen

    read something from body language

  • die Stimmung ablesen

    read the mood

Similar words

lesen: Read and comprehend letters, words, or connected text.
messen: Measure something with equipment to obtain its numerical value.

Definition in German

Ablesen meint, Werte oder Hinweise aus Anzeigen, Ziffernblättern oder dem äußeren Verhalten zu entnehmen.

Word origin

Ablesen combines the separable prefix ab- ('off') with inherited Germanic lesen ('read'), yielding the sense of reading information off a source.

Usage tips

  • In a main clause, ablesen splits as in 'Ich lese die Werte ab'; its past participle is abgelesen.

Other meanings

  • inferverb

Opposites

  • verschleiernconcealverb

Related words

  • Ablesungreadingnoun
  • Ableserreadernoun

Word lists with this word