surtitle

Everyday

Surtitles are words shown on a screen above the stage at an opera or play, giving a translation of what is being sung or said in another language, or the words for people who cannot hear well. tree →

In the lessons

In music and drama lessons or on a theatre trip, pupils may see surtitles above the stage, for example when an opera is sung in Italian or German. They are like subtitles on a film, but above a stage. Phrases: «read the surtitles», «with English surtitles».

Examples

• The opera was in Italian, but there were English surtitles. tree →
• We read the surtitles above the stage. tree →
• Surtitles help deaf audience members follow the play. tree →
• It was hard to watch the singers and read the surtitles at the same time. tree →
• The theatre shows surtitles on a long screen. tree →
• Without the surtitles, I would not have understood the story. tree →

Note

Usually plural: «surtitles». «Sur-» means «above» (from French). Compare «subtitles», which are at the bottom of a film or TV screen.