Dub vs. Sub — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 25, 2024

Dub involves replacing the original audio of a video with another language, maintaining the same content, whereas sub refers to subtitles in various languages displayed on the screen while the original audio plays.

Difference Between Dub and Sub

Key Differences

Dubbing is the process of overlaying the original audio of a video with a new audio track in a different language, aiming to make the content accessible to speakers of that language. On the other hand, subtitles, or subs, involve the display of translated text on the screen, allowing viewers to read along while the original audio plays in the background.

Dubbed content usually attracts audiences that may not be proficient in the original language of the video and prefer listening rather than reading. Subtitles cater to those who wish to hear the original voices and intonation of the actors, which can be crucial in conveying the full emotional and cultural context.

Dubs can alter the viewer's experience by potentially changing voice tones and emotional expressions, which might not exactly match the original actors' intentions. Conversely, subtitles provide a more authentic experience but require viewers to split their focus between reading and watching the visuals.

Dubbing requires extensive effort from voice actors to match the lip movements and expressions of the original actors, which can sometimes lead to discrepancies in timing and performance. Subtitles, however, might face challenges with translation accuracy and timing but generally maintain the original pacing and acting.

Dub often leads to discussions about the quality and authenticity of the voice acting and how well it represents the original script and characters. Subtitles are debated mostly in terms of translation quality, with concerns about how well nuances and idiomatic expressions are captured.

Comparison Chart

Language Delivery

Audio in viewer's language

Original audio with text overlay

Audience Focus

Non-native speakers of original language

Audiences preferring original performance

Cultural Authenticity

Potentially compromised

Preserved

Viewer Engagement

Focus on listening

Focus on reading and listening

Production Complexity

Requires voice actors, sound editing

Requires accurate and timely translation

Compare with Definitions

Dub

A method of translating video content by replacing the original audio with a new language track.

The Spanish dub of the movie was popular in Latin America.

Sub

Short for "submarine sandwich," a type of long sandwich made on a baguette.

He ordered a sub with extra cheese and peppers.

Dub

To add a soundtrack to a film or broadcast.

The studio dubbed the new music over the original recording.

Sub

Informal term for a substitute player in a game.

The coach brought a sub on in the second half to freshen up the team.

Dub

To confer a title or nickname.

He was dubbed the king of indie films due to his unique directing style.

Sub

Refers to a subcontractor, especially in construction.

The main contractor hired a sub for the electrical work on the building.

Dub

The process involving the mixing or editing of existing audio or video tracks.

The DJ dubbed old reggae beats into his tracks.

Sub

Abbreviation for subtitles, text overlays providing a transcript or translation of the dialogue.

I turned on the subs to understand the French film.

Dub

A copy of a recording made by recording from another recording.

She made several dubs of her demo to send to different record labels.

Sub

In video editing, a subclip is a section or segment of a larger clip.

The editor created several subclips to use in the final documentary.

Dub

To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood.

Sub

A submarine

The yachtsman claimed his boat had been sunk by a sub

Dub

To honor with a new title or description.

Sub

A subscription

The annual sub for the golf club will be £200

Dub

To give a name to facetiously or playfully; nickname.

Sub

A substitute, especially in a sporting team

The team pulled back with a goal from sub Chris Malkin

Dub

To strike, cut, or rub (timber or leather, for example) so as to make even or smooth.

Sub

A subeditor

The chief sub would be responsible for the look of the paper

Dub

To dress (a fowl).

Sub

An advance or loan against expected income

‘I've got no money.’ ‘Want a sub?’

Dub

To execute (a golf stroke, for example) poorly.

Sub

Replace or be replaced; substitute

He subbed for Armstrong at some gigs

He got a lot of applause when he was subbed

Dub

To thrust at; poke.

Sub

Lend or advance a sum to (someone) against expected income

Who'll sub me till Thursday?

Dub

To beat (a drum).

Sub

Subedit

His copy was mercilessly subbed and rewritten

Dub

To make a thrust.

Sub

(Nautical) A submarine.

Dub

To beat on a drum.

Sub

A submarine sandwich.

Dub

To transfer (recorded material) onto a new recording medium.

Sub

A substitute.

Dub

To copy (a record or tape).

Sub

To act as a substitute

A graduate student subbing for the professor.

Dub

To insert a new soundtrack, often a synchronized translation of the original dialogue, into (a film).

Sub

To put or use (a person or thing) as a substitute

The coach subbed fresh players toward the end of the game. The cook subbed oil for butter.

Dub

To add (sound) into a film or tape

Dub in strings behind the vocal.

Sub

Usage Problem To replace; substitute

The player was subbed after she committed two errors. Sub the chicken with tofu to make the dish vegetarian. See Usage Note at substitute.

Dub

An awkward person or player; a bungler.

Sub

A submarine.

Dub

The act of dubbing.

Sub

A submarine sandwich: a sandwich made on a long bun.

We can get subs at that deli.

Dub

A drumbeat.

Sub

(informal) A substitute, often in sports or teaching.

With the score 4 to 1, they brought in subs.

She worked as a sub until she got her teaching certificate.

Dub

The new sounds added by dubbing.

Sub

A subscription: a payment made for membership of a club, etc.

Dub

A dubbed copy of a tape or record.

Sub

A subtitle.

I've just noticed a mistake in the subs for this film.

Dub

A mostly instrumental style of music originating in Jamaica, produced by remixing existing recordings to emphasize drum and bass rhythms and adding audio effects.

Sub

A subroutine (sometimes one that does not return a value, as distinguished from a function, which does).

Dub

A puddle or small pool.

Sub

(colloquial) A subeditor.

Dub

(transitive) To confer knighthood; the conclusion of the ceremony was marked by a tap on the shoulder with a sword.

Sub

(colloquial) A subcontractor.

Dub

(transitive) To name, to entitle, to call.

Sub

(slang) A subwoofer.

Dub

(transitive) To deem.

Sub

A submissive.

Dub

To clothe or invest; to ornament; to adorn.

Sub

A subordinate.

Dub

(heading) To strike, rub, or dress smooth; to dab.

Sub

A subaltern.

Dub

To dress with an adze.

To dub a stick of timber smooth

Sub

A subscription (or (by extension) a subscriber) to an online channel or feed.

I'm totally stoked; just got 10 new subs after my last video.

Dub

To strike cloth with teasels to raise a nap.

Sub

(colloquial) Subsistence money: part of a worker's wages paid before the work is finished.

Dub

To rub or dress with grease, as leather in the process of currying it.

Sub

(internet slang) subreddit

Dub

To dress a fishing fly.

Sub

To substitute for.

Dub

To prepare (a gamecock) for fighting, by trimming the hackles and cutting off the comb and wattles.

Sub

To work as a substitute teacher, especially in primary and secondary education.

Dub

To make a noise by brisk drumbeats.

Sub

To replace (a player) with a substitute.

He never really made a contribution to the match, so it was no surprise when he was subbed at half time.

Dub

To do something badly.

Sub

Less commonly, and often as sub on, to bring on (a player) as a substitute.

He was subbed on half way through the second half, and scored within minutes.

Dub

(golf) To execute a shot poorly.

Sub

(British) To perform the work of a subeditor or copy editor; to subedit.

Dub

To add sound to film or change audio on film.

Sub

To subtitle (usually a film or television program).

Dub

To make a copy from an original or master audio tape.

Sub

To lend.

Dub

To replace the original soundtrack of a film with a synchronized translation

Sub

To subscribe.

Dub

To mix audio tracks to produce a new sound; to remix.

Sub

(BDSM) To take a submissive role.

Dub

To open or close.

Sub

To coat with a layer of adhering material; to planarize by means of such a coating.

Dub

(rare) A blow, thrust, or poke.

Sub

(microscopy) To prepare (a slide) with a layer of transparent substance to support and/or fix the sample.

Dub

An unskillful, awkward person.

Sub

Under.

Dub

A mostly instrumental remix with all or part of the vocals removed.

Sub

A subordinate; a subaltern.

Dub

A style of reggae music involving mixing of different audio tracks.

Sub

A shortened form of submarine, the boat.

Dub

A trend in music starting in 2009, in which bass distortion is synced off timing to electronic dance music.

Sub

A shortened form of submarine sandwich; also called hero, hero sandwich, and grinder.

Dub

A piece of graffiti in metallic colour with a thick black outline.

Sub

A large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States

Dub

(countable) The replacement of a voice part in a movie or cartoon, particularly with a translation; an instance of dubbing.

Sub

A submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes

Dub

A pool or puddle.

Sub

Be a substitute;

The young teacher had to substitute for the sick colleague

The skim milk substitutes for cream--we are on a strict diet

Dub

(slang) A twenty-dollar sack of marijuana.

Dub

(slang) A wheel rim measuring 20 inches or more.

Dub

A lock.

Dub

A key, especially a master key; a lockpick.

Dub

To confer knighthood upon; as, the king dubbed his son Henry a knight.

Dub

To invest with any dignity or new character; to entitle; to call.

A man of wealth is dubbed a man of worth.

Dub

To clothe or invest; to ornament; to adorn.

His diadem was dropped downDubbed with stones.

Dub

To strike, rub, or dress smooth; to dab;

Dub

To strike cloth with teasels to raise a nap.

Dub

To make a noise by brisk drumbeats.

Dub

To add sound to an existing recording, audio or video; - often used with in. The sound may be of any type or of any duration.

Dub

To mix together two or more sound or video recordings to produce a composite recording.

Dub

A blow.

Dub

A pool or puddle.

Dub

Give a nickname to

Dub

Provide (movies) with a soundtrack of a foreign language

Dub

Raise (someone) to knighthood;

The Beatles were knighted

Common Curiosities

Who generally prefers dubbed content?

Viewers who are not proficient in the original language and prefer listening to reading generally prefer dubbed content.

Why might someone prefer subtitles over dubbed audio?

Subtitles preserve the original actors' voices and emotional expressions, providing a more authentic experience.

Are there any disadvantages to dubbing?

Dubbing can lead to discrepancies in voice tones and expressions not matching the original actors, potentially altering the intended emotional impact.

What are the technical challenges in dubbing?

Dubbing involves matching the timing and lip movements of the original actors, which can be technically challenging.

Can subtitles affect the viewing experience?

Yes, subtitles can split viewer focus between reading and watching, potentially affecting the viewing experience.

Is dubbed or subtitled content more popular globally?

Preferences vary widely by region and audience, with some preferring dubbed for ease of understanding and others preferring subtitles for authenticity.

Can dubbing change the style of the original content?

Yes, dubbing can sometimes change the style and tone of the original content based on the voice actors' interpretations.

What translation challenges do subtitles face?

Subtitles need to accurately convey cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions within limited space and time constraints.

What is the main difference between dub and sub?

Dub replaces the original audio with another language, while sub involves displaying translated text on the screen.

What role do subtitles play in learning a new language?

Subtitles can be a useful tool for language learners to practice listening and reading comprehension simultaneously.

How do subtitles maintain cultural authenticity?

Subtitles maintain the original audio, thus preserving the cultural authenticity of the content.

How does dubbing impact children's programming?

Dubbing is often preferred in children's programming to ensure the content is easily understandable for young viewers.

Can viewers switch between dub and sub options on streaming platforms?

Many streaming platforms offer viewers the choice between dubbed audio and subtitles, enhancing accessibility.

What is the preferred option for cinematic releases, dub or sub?

This depends on the market; some regions prefer dubs for wide accessibility, while others show a strong preference for subtitles to preserve the film's originality.

Do subtitles always translate the dialogues verbatim?

No, sometimes subtitles must be condensed or paraphrased to fit the screen and timing, which can alter the exact wording.

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Author Spotlight

Written by

Fiza Rafique

Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

Edited by

Tayyaba Rehman

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.