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.
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