voz en off
/boθ en off/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for voice over is voz en off.
In film, television and radio production, voz en off is used to describe narration that is not seen on screen. Depending on the specific professional context, other terms may be more precise: Locución en Off is used within the media industry, Narración en Off is used when the voice is narrating a story or providing commentary and Doblaje is used specifically in the context of dubbing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation of 'voice in off'. The word voz means 'voice' and en off refers to the technical state of being 'off-camera' or 'off-screen'.
How do you pronounce it?
/boθ en off/
Did you know?
- The phrase voz en off is used not only in film but also in Spanish theater to describe a voice heard from the wings or from above the stage. This allows the audience to hear a character's inner thoughts without the actor being visible.
- While voz en off is used throughout the Spanish-speaking world, the word off is a direct borrowing from English. It is an example of a technical term entering the language without being translated or adapted to Spanish phonetics.
- A person who provides a voz en off is called a locutor, which is a professional title rather than a simple description of someone speaking.
Examples in context
- El documental está narrado con locución en off.The documentary is narrated with voice over.
- La narración en off proporciona contexto histórico al video.The voice over provides historical context to the video.
- Me gustaría participar en el doblaje de una película animada.I would like to participate in the voice over of an animated movie.
- Ella puso su voz en off para el anuncio publicitario.She provided the voice over for the commercial.
- ¿Ellas hacen las voces en off de doblaje en esa película?Do they do the voice overs for the dubbing in that movie?
- La voz en off suena muy profesional.The voice over sounds very professional.
- Necesitamos grabar la voz en off hoy.We need to record the voice over today.
- Esa voz en off es demasiado fuerte.That voice over is too loud.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a video project.
- MateoMaría, ¿ya grabaste la voz en off?María, did you record the voice over yet?
- MaríaNo, Mateo, todavía no he escrito el guion.No, Mateo, I haven't written the script yet.
- MateoDebemos terminarla antes del viernes.We must finish it before Friday.
- MaríaEstá bien, la grabaré mañana por la mañana.Alright, I will record it tomorrow morning.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, off, voz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
