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Glite Dictionary
supertitle

supertitle

1 8.8
A translation of sung words shown above the stage so the audience can follow
  • noun
  • /ˈsuːpərˌtaɪtəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : supertítulo
  • Much of it is unimportant, repetitious, often silly—a fact that argues strongly against the menace of supertitles at the opera.
  • English supertitles
  • supertitles, an English translation

Examples

  • The audience appreciated the performance more because they could read the English supertitles above the stage.

  • During the opera, the singers performed in Italian while the supertitles translated the lyrics into English for clarity.

  • Many viewers find it helpful when the supertitles display the translations of the foreign language songs being sung.

Synonyms

surtitle
vssupertitle
9.1

Translated words shown above the stage to help the audience follow an opera or musical

applies to translations for opera and choral works broadly, not only foreign performances

Surface Forms

supertitle singular
supertitles plural

Morphology

supertitle = title (transparent) = super + title + super

The prefix 'super-' meaning 'above/over' combines with 'title' to denote a title displayed above the stage, a meaning readily deducible from the parts.

Etymology

Supertitle comes from the parts super- meaning 'above' and title meaning 'a name or heading'. So a supertitle is a title shown above something, which is why it is the translated words projected above the stage to help the audience follow the opera.