Undertitel

Undertitel is a term in Danish and Norwegian that denotes the subtitle text shown on screen to translate or transcribe dialogue in film, television, or video. The word is derived from under ('beneath') and titel ('title'), literally meaning "under title," reflecting its position below the image. In practice, undertitler can appear as translated text for foreign-language dialogue or as a transcription of spoken content for accessibility. Subtitles may be embedded as part of the video stream (open subtitles) or supplied separately and activated by the viewer (closed subtitles). Subtitling may also differ from captions, which additionally describe non-speech sounds and speakers.

Many platforms support multiple undertitel tracks in various languages, with common formats such as SRT, WebVTT, or embedded subtitle streams. Creating undertitler involves transcription, timing, and sometimes localization. Professional subtitling aims to convey spoken content, tone, and cultural context within space and timing constraints. In broadcasting and streaming, undertitel availability is subject to regional accessibility rules, licensing, and language policy.

Historically, subtitling evolved from early intertitles and later became a standard feature in cinema and television, enabling wider access to media content regardless of language or hearing ability. In other Scandinavian languages, analogous terms exist with slight spellings. The concept remains central to media production, distribution, and accessibility across multiple industries.