sottotitolo

Sottotitolo is an Italian noun that denotes a secondary line of text associated with a main title, serving as a subtitle or subheading. It derives from sotto, meaning under, and titolo, meaning title. The exact sense of the term depends on context: in publishing it refers to a brief descriptive phrase that accompanies a title; in cinema and television it is related to the practice of providing translated or transcribed dialogue on screen.

In publishing, a sottotitolo appears as a brief addition to the title, often conveying the scope, topic, or approach of the work. It can be placed on the same line as the main title or on a separate line and is used to clarify meaning, indicate genre, or help distinguish works with similar titles. The use of a sottotitolo varies by publisher, genre, and editorial style.

In film, television, and digital media, the term is commonly associated with subtitles, for which the Italian word is sottotitoli (plural). These are the text overlays that translate or transcribe dialogue for viewers. In Italian discussions, sottotitolo may be used more broadly to refer to a subtitle-like descriptive phrase attached to a title, but the practical labeling of on-screen dialogue remains sottotitoli.

The concept is distinct from other typographic elements such as titulok or didascalia (caption). It also contrasts with a “title” or “headline” used as the main focal text. In summary, sottotitolo covers both a descriptive subtitle in published works and a general notion of on-screen subtitle in media contexts.