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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.
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By Sumit DeyUpdated
Subtitles, Explained
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.
Subtitles 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.
Terms Related to Subtitles
Subtitles, answered
How do I add subtitles to a video?
Either upload a subtitle file such as SRT to YouTube or your video player, or burn the subtitles into the video so they are part of the picture. Burned-in subtitles work on Instagram and TikTok, which ignore separate subtitle files.
Can viewers turn subtitles off?
Only when they are a separate file, like SRT or VTT, that the player shows on request. Subtitles burned into the video are part of the picture, so everyone sees them and nobody can switch them off.
Are subtitles the same as captions?
No. Subtitles translate spoken language for viewers who can hear; captions are for viewers who cannot hear and include sound effects and speaker labels.
What file format do subtitles use?
SRT and VTT are the most common subtitle file formats. SRT is older and more universally supported; VTT supports styling, positioning, and metadata.
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