Glossary
What Are Subtitles? Definition and Examples
Subtitles are timed text translations of spoken dialogue in a video, designed for viewers who can hear the audio but don't understand the language.
Definition
Subtitles are timed text translations of the spoken dialogue in a video, intended for viewers who can hear the audio but do not understand the spoken language.
Full Explanation
Subtitles are a form of synchronized timed text that translates the spoken language of a video into another language. Unlike captions, subtitles assume the viewer can hear the audio, they don't include sound effects, music cues, or speaker identification. A French film shown in the United States with English text at the bottom is subtitled. The text only translates what is said. Subtitles can be soft subtitles (delivered as a separate SRT or VTT file the viewer can toggle and customize) or burned-in subtitles (permanently rendered into the video). On streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube, the menu option labeled 'subtitles' typically refers to translated text, while 'captions' refers to same-language text with sound descriptions.
Examples
- -An English-language film shown in Japan with Japanese text on screen.
- -A Spanish telenovela streamed in the U.S. with toggleable English text.
- -A K-drama on Netflix with selectable subtitle tracks in 30+ languages.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Subtitles translate spoken language for viewers who can hear; captions are for viewers who cannot hear and include sound effects and speaker labels.
SRT and VTT are the most common subtitle file formats. SRT is older and more universally supported; VTT supports styling, positioning, and metadata.