diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.h b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
index 4dbfa1e7e1..a409f1538b 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
@@ -2375,6 +2375,24 @@ typedef struct AVPaletteControl {
 
 } AVPaletteControl attribute_deprecated;
 
+enum AVSubtitleType {
+    SUBTITLE_NONE,
+
+    SUBTITLE_BITMAP,                ///< A bitmap, pict will be set
+
+    /**
+     * Plain text, the text field must be set by the decoder and is
+     * authoritative. ass and pict fields may contain approximations.
+     */
+    SUBTITLE_TEXT,
+
+    /**
+     * Formatted text, the ass field must be set by the decoder and is
+     * authoritative. pict and text fields may contain approximations.
+     */
+    SUBTITLE_ASS,
+};
+
 typedef struct AVSubtitleRect {
     uint16_t x;
     uint16_t y;