subs

Subs is an informal plural form and abbreviation used in several distinct domains, with meaning determined by context. In naval and military slang, subs refers to submarines, especially when contrasted with surface ships. In sports and games, subs (short for substitutes) are players who begin on the bench and may enter the game to replace others. In cuisine, subs is short for submarine sandwiches, a category of long, sandwich rolls filled with meats, cheeses, and vegetables; regional terms include hoagies, grinders, or heroes.

In media and entertainment, subs is shorthand for subtitles, the on-screen text that provides dialogue or translations. On digital platforms, subs is commonly used to mean subscriptions or subscribers; for example, a creator may report gains in subs or viewers by noting sub counts.

The term can also function as a verb, as in to sub a player into a game or to sub out a player, and the plural subs will refer to multiple substitutes or substitute tracks.

Regional and stylistic differences influence usage. Submarine sandwiches are most often called subs in parts of the United States, while the same item may be called a sub, a hero, or a grinder elsewhere. The meaning of subs is thus highly context-dependent, spanning military hardware, sport, food, media, and digital culture.