Read the showtime before you pay

Cinema Language Labels Explained: OV, OmU, VO, VF, VOSTF and More

You have picked a film and a cinema, and the showtime says “OmeU”, “VOSTFR” or “EN/TH”. The title alone won’t tell you which language you will hear or read, and the codes vary by country and cinema chain. Here is what the common ones mean, and a quick check for any listing.

By · Published and sources checked · Updated 4 min read

The short answer

  • What you will hear: the film’s original language, or a dub in another language.
  • What you will read: subtitles in a named language, none at all, or a code that doesn’t say.
  • Captions are labelled separately: OC and CC mark captions, an accessibility service, so check their language too.
  • If an answer is missing, ask the cinema about the exact showtime before you pay.

What do OV, OF, OmU, OmeU and DF mean in German cinema listings?

Yorck Kinogruppe’s official FAQ defines these labels for its cinemas. Other chains can use additional labels, so still check the cinema’s own legend.

You hear You read OV · OF Original audio No subtitles OmU Original audio German OmeU Original audio English DF German audio Not stated You hear You read OV · OF Original audio No subtitles OmU Original audio German OmeU Original audio English DF German audio Not stated
The extra “e” in OmeU is what makes the subtitles English.
  • OV or OF: Original version without subtitles. Yorck says OV and OF mean the same thing in its listings.
  • OmU: Original version with German subtitles: “Original mit deutschen Untertiteln.”
  • OmeU: Original version with English subtitles: “Original mit englischen Untertiteln.” The extra “e” changes the subtitle language.
  • DF: German-language audio. In a foreign-language film that means a dub, with the original dialogue track replaced by German audio.

What do VO, VOST, VOSTF and VF mean in French cinema listings?

The cited French-language glossary expands these labels as follows. They are not a guarantee for any one chain, so check the cinema’s own legend before booking.

You hear You read VO Original audio Not stated VOST Original audio Subtitleslanguage not named VOSTFR Original audio French VF French dub Not stated You hear You read VO Original audio Not stated VOST Original audio Subtitleslanguage not named VOSTFR Original audio French VF French dub Not stated
VO leaves subtitles open, VOST adds them, and the F or FR at the end names French.
  • VO: Version originale: the film is shown in its original language. VO alone does not promise subtitles.
  • VOST: Version originale sous-titrée: original-language audio with subtitles. The acronym alone does not name the subtitle language.
  • VOSTF or VOSTFR: Original-language audio with French subtitles.
  • VF: Version française: a French-dubbed version.

How do Major Cineplex language codes work?

Major Cineplex’s own icon guide uses audio first and subtitles second. These examples belong to Major’s documented codes; do not assume every Thai cinema uses them.

You hear You read EN/TH English audio Thai TH/EN Thai audio English JP/ET Japanese audio English + Thai You hear You read EN/TH English audio Thai TH/EN Thai audio English JP/ET Japanese audio English + Thai
Swap the order and the roles swap: the first part is what you hear, the second what you read.
  • EN/TH: English audio with Thai subtitles.
  • TH/EN: Thai audio with English subtitles.
  • Codes ending /ET: In Major’s guide, codes such as OV/ET, JP/ET and HD/ET include English and Thai subtitles. JP/ET, for example, is Japanese audio with English and Thai subtitles. See the Thailand guide for the full list and booking workflow.

What do OC and CC mean?

Unlike the codes above, these two describe an accessibility service. Note them separately from the audio and subtitle language.

Open captions or OC

Captions are always visible on the main screen. They can include dialogue and relevant non-speech information. Verify the language.

Closed captions or CC

Captions can be turned on or off. CC does not mean “translated into every language.”

Four mistakes that lead to the wrong ticket

  • Assuming “original version” means English. The film’s original language may be anything.
  • Reading a subtitle icon without checking which language the subtitles use. An icon only says that subtitles exist.
  • Assuming a dubbed showtime keeps the original dialogue track. A dub replaces it with audio in another language.
  • Treating a country-specific code as a universal standard. The letters OV mean no subtitles in Yorck’s listings, but Major’s OV/ET comes with English and Thai subtitles.

A quick showtime check

  1. Open the exact showtime, not only the film detail page: the cinema, the date and the time.
  2. Write the listing as “audio language / subtitle language.” OmeU, for example, becomes original language / English.
  3. Note any OC or CC separately, as an accessibility service.
  4. Ask the cinema before you pay if the subtitle language is not explicit.

Related guides

How to Watch a Movie in Thailand Without Speaking Thai Read Major Cineplex’s EN/TH, TH/EN and /ET codes, check an SF Cinema showtime and know what you will hear and read before you pay. Read the guide Before You Bring Phone Subtitles to the Cinema: A Practical Checklist What to check at home, before you leave and in your seat, from matching the file to fixing drift. Read the guide

Sources and further reading

Provider coverage, cinema listings and platform support can change. Sources were checked on July 28, 2026.