German Phrase
Liest du vor dem Schlafengehen?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the listener reads something (a book, e‑book, etc.) before they go to bed. It is a friendly way to inquire about a bedtime habit.
When to use
Use it in casual conversation with friends, family, or language‑exchange partners when you want to talk about nightly routines or recommend a good bedtime read.
✦Grammar Breakdown
LiestduvordemSchlafengehen
Liest (lesen)
‘Liest’ is the 2nd‑person singular present tense of the verb ‘lesen’ (to read).
vor dem + Dativ
The preposition ‘vor’ meaning ‘before’ takes the dative case when it refers to a point in time.
Schlafengehen (Nominalisation)
‘Schlafengehen’ is a nominalised verb; it functions as a neuter noun (das Schlafengehen) meaning ‘going to sleep’.
Word order in yes‑no questions
In German yes‑no questions the finite verb moves to the first position, followed by the subject.
🗨In Conversation
Liest du vor dem Schlafengehen?
Do you read before going to sleep?
Ja, ich lese immer ein Kapitel von meinem Lieblingsroman.
Yes, I always read a chapter of my favourite novel.
✕Common Mistakes
Liest du vor den Schlafengehen?
‘vor’ with a time reference takes the dative, not the accusative.
liest du vor dem Schlafengehen?
In a yes‑no question the verb must be first: ‘Liest du …’ not ‘liest du …’ with lower‑case L.
Liest du vor das Schlafengehen?
Do not add an article in the accusative case; the correct dative form is ‘dem Schlafengehen’.
↔Alternatives
Liest du vor dem Schlafen?
Do you read before sleeping?
Liest du abends vor dem Schlafengehen?
Do you read in the evening before going to sleep?
Machst du das Lesen zu deiner Abendroutine?
Do you make reading part of your evening routine?
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking households reading before bed is a common way to unwind, especially for children. However, many adults now prefer podcasts or audiobooks. When you ask this question, you can follow up with a recommendation – Germans love sharing book tips over a cup of tea.